Photo with Hillary Clinton used as evidence in Belarus opposition politician’s trial over protests

Tallinn, Estonia — Belarusian investigators are utilizing a photograph of an opposition politician shaking arms with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as proof in a prison case tied to the mass protests after Belarus’ disputed 2020 presidential election.

The Investigative Committee of Belarus on Friday printed the photograph of Andrey Dzmitryeu, who ran within the election in opposition to authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and is now dealing with as much as 4 years in jail over his involvement within the protests. In an announcement it stated the image with Clinton “may indicate that his activities were coordinated from abroad.”
 
Dzmitryeu, a 41-year-old activist and chief of the Tell the Truth opposition motion, was detained by safety forces Wednesday and has been charged with “organizing riots.” He is being held within the Okrestsina jail in Minsk, which grew to become infamous after rights activists alleged that individuals within the 2020 protests have been tortured and humiliated there.

The Investigative Committee didn’t specify when or below what circumstances the photograph of Dzmitryeu and Clinton was taken, however claimed that the politician had “crossed the state border of Belarus 599 times, 33 of them after 2020.”

Both the Belarusian opposition and Western nations denounced the 2020 election, which gave Lukashenko one other time period in workplace, as rigged. Authorities in Minsk responded to the protests with an enormous crackdown that noticed over 35,000 detained and hundreds crushed by police. Dozens of media retailers and non-governmental organizations have been additionally shut down.

According to official Belarusian election knowledge, Dzmitryeu positioned fourth with 1.2% of the vote, whereas Lukashenko received over 80%. During the election marketing campaign, Dzmitryeu repeatedly voiced his assist for opposition figures barred from working.
 
According to Belarus’ Viasna human rights watchdog, there have been 1,445 political prisoners within the jap European nation as of early January.

Opposition chief Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, who many consider was the actual winner of the 2020 election, condemned Dzmitryeu’s arrest and claimed in a Twitter submit that “on average, 17 people are detained every day in Belarus.” 

“I am alarmed by the arrest of another presidential candidate from Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya, who now lives in exile in Lithuania, stated on the social community. “The dictator seems busy taking revenge on his real or imagined opponents – even moderate politicians like Andrey Dzmitryeu.”