US condemns ‘shameful’ sentencing

The United States yesterday denounced prison sentences handed down against two opposition figures in Belarus who challenged President Alexander Lukashenko.

“The United States condemns the politically motivated conviction and shameful sentencing today of Belarusian opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak,” the Statement Department said.

The pair were sentenced yesterday to 11 and 10 years in prison, respectively. Kolesnikova led unprecedented protests against Lukashenko last year. Znak is a lawyer and fellow opposition activist.