BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/05/2006

Belarus opposition figure sentenced

Associated Press

MINSK, Belarus - A Belarus court on Monday sentenced an opposition campaign official to five months in prison after convicting him of training and paying people to riot.

It was the first verdict under legislation pushed through by authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko before the March presidential election.

Sergei Lyashkevich, who directed opposition presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich's campaign office in Shchuchin, was convicted by a court there, the defendant said.

"This is an absurd charge that the authorities simply fabricated," said Lyashkevich, who pleaded not guilty.

The legislation provides for sentences of up to two years in prison for anyone convicted of financing or "teaching and preparing individuals to take part in mass disorder."

Lukashenko has faced international condemnation of the election, which he won with 83 percent of the vote, according to official results.

Source:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/14695357.htm