Belarus puts opposition on trial over ‘bid to seize power’

BELARUS’S chief prosecutor yesterday launched a criminal case against opposition leaders, accusing them of trying to “seize power” from Alexander Lukashenko, the president.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who stood against Mr Lukashenko in a disputed presidential election and later fled to Lithuania after apparent threats to her children, this week launched a council to coordinate the peaceful transfer of power.

“The creation of such bodies is not allowed in law and they are unconstitutional,” Alexander Konyuk, the prosecutor general, said in an indictment.

“The creation and activity of the coordination council are aimed at the seizure of state power and at harming national security.”

Protests broke out across the country two weeks ago after Mr Lukashenko claimed 80 per cent of the vote in results widely seen as fabricated.

The opposition movement grew following a brutal police crackdown, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets in the biggest demonstrations the country has ever seen.

Mr Lukashenko’s demise after 26 years as leader seemed all but inevitable in the face of mass strikes.

But in recent days the regime has hit back, with the president ordering police to put down any further protests.

The European Union is imposing

‘The creation and activity of such bodies is aimed at the seizure of power and at harming national security’

targeted sanctions against the regime over police violence.

Officers used rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas on protestors, while many demonstrators who were arrested showed marks from beatings in police custody.

Ms Tikhanovskaya has called on the EU to reject the election result.

Mr Lukashenko has accused foreign forces of working to undermine Belarus, and told factory workers that there would not be another election “until you kill me”.