A Belarusian activist who stabbed himself in court docket has been convicted after his trial resumed, a rights group has stated.
Stsiapan Latypau was rushed to hospital in June after reducing himself within the neck with a pen throughout his listening to in Minsk.
In accordance with Viasna human rights centre in Belarus, the 41-year previous had tried to commit suicide to protest political repression, following strain in detention and threats to prosecute his relations.
Latypau was arrested final September throughout an intense crackdown on opposition protestors in Belarus, charged with organising riots, resisting arrest, and fraud.
After receiving remedy, his trial was resumed on Monday, based on Viasna.
The group says that Latypau was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in detention and fined 8,700 Belarusian rubles (round €3,000).
Stsiapan Latypau pleaded not responsible and refused to testify in court docket, Viasna added.
“Latypau was accused of working a local people Telegram chat, a workshop for making protest symbols, and resisting cops throughout his arrest on September 15,” Viasna stated in a assertion.
The human rights centre additionally stated in June that Latypau had arrived on the court docket in Minsk with “!apparent indicators of violence.” A senior advisor to Belarusian opposition chief Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya additionally stated Latypau was subjected to torture whereas in detention.
“I’m pleased with Stsiapan’s braveness and energy,” Tsikhanouskaya tweeted on Monday.
“Each day we struggle in all methods attainable to launch and rehabilitate individuals imprisoned on political grounds in Belarus as quickly as attainable.”
The protest motion started in August 2020 when President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a disputed victory within the election polls.
Lukashenko’s authorities has harshly repressed post-election protests, and greater than 35,000 individuals have been detained within the final 12 months, based on human rights teams.
