Belarusian activist stabs his throat during a court hearing in Minsk
A Belarusian activist stabbed his own throat during a court hearing in Minsk on Tuesday, according to local human rights watchdog Viasna 96.
According to the organization, Steffan Latypov, who is
facing allegations of organizing protests and resisting arrest, stabbed himself
in the neck during the hearing because of alleged threats from authorities
against his family if he didn't plead guilty. He faces an additional charge for
fraud which he also denies.
"Father, after meeting with you, GUBOPiK [Belarusian
Interior Ministry's Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and
Corruption] came to me and warned that if I didn't admit my guilt, then I would
be thrown in a cell with hardened criminals and criminal cases would be
launched against my relatives and neighbors," Latypov said according to
Viasna 96 before cutting himself.
The Belarusian Interior Ministry could not be reached for a comment.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya tweeted
on Tuesday about Latypov's case and called for an end to the country's
"state of terror."
"He was threatened with the persecution of his family
if he didn't admit himself guilty. This is the result of state terror,
repressions, torture in Belarus. We must stop it immediately!"
Tikhanovskaya herself fled Belarus in August last year
following the country's disputed presidential elections. Alexander Lukashenko,
the country's long-time leader who has been described as Europe's "last
dictator," claimed to have won over 80% of the vote.
The election sparked a new wave of mass protests in Belarus,
with thousands of people arrested. The US and EU declared the vote fraudulent
and imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials over the fraud and the brutal
crackdown that followed.
Latypov was detained on September 15, 2020 after he asked
for identification from police who were overseeing the painting-over of a
political mural in a courtyard in Minsk, according to Viasna 96.
Viasna 96 also said Latypov underwent surgery on Tuesday
after he cut himself and did not suffer from damage to vital organs.
Latypov is just one of many activists, journalist and
protesters facing charges in Belarus.
The arrest of dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and
student Sofia Sapega sparked an international outrage last week. The pair were
detained after their Ryanair flight traveling from Athens to the Lithuanian
capital Vilnius was intercepted and forced to land in Minsk as it overflew
Belarus.
Protasevich has been charged with "organizing mass
riots and group actions that grossly violate public order," from outside
the country via his Telegram channel.
On Tuesday, Lukashenko announced during a government
conference that he had told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Belarus
will investigate Sapega, state-run news agency Belta reported. Sapega is a
Russian citizen.
Belta reported the incident was discussed between Lukashenko
and Putin during their recent meeting in Sochi.
"The investigation concerning both persons will proceed
in Belarus. It is unbendable. I told the president of Russia about it. I
assured him there will be no issues with the consuls' access [to the
arrestees]. I don't think they take offense, we do more than providing
information, if they want to meet, they can go ahead. It is an international
practice," Lukashenko said, according to Belta.
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