Latvian Citizen Sentenced To Six Years For ‘Defamation’ Of Lukashenka

• 13.03.2025, 14:21

A politically motivated verdict was issued in Minsk.

The Minsk Regional Court has handed down a politically motivated sentence to Latvian citizen Jūris Ganins, according to the Human Rights Center Viasna.

Ganins was sentenced to six years in a high-security penal colony. He was found guilty under three articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code: "discrediting Belarus" (Article 369-1), "defamation" of Aliaksandr Lukashenka (Part 2, Article 367), and "calls for sanctions" (Part 2, Article 361).

Judge Aliaksandr Rybakou announced the verdict on February 19, but news of it has only now emerged. The details of the charges remain unknown, as the trial was held behind closed doors.

A total of 36 foreign political prisoners are currently held in Belarusian detention facilities, including four Latvian citizens.

Meanwhile, the largest parliamentary faction in Latvia's Saeima, New Unity, which is part of the ruling coalition, has proposed amendments to the Tourism Law. These amendments would prohibit tourism service providers from offering or conducting services in Russia and Belarus.

The authors of these amendments aim to "reduce the risk of potential human rights violations against Latvian citizens and prevent their involvement in activities that serve the interests of Russia or Belarus, including recruitment efforts."