Edward Babariko found guilty of tax evasion and “complicity in inciting social discord and hostilities”
A court in Belarus convicted him Edward Babariko – son of Lukashenko’s imprisoned former opponent in the presidential elections Viktor Babariko – to eight years in prisonhis supporters and state media reported today.
Edward Babariko found guilty of tax evasion and “complicity in inciting social discord and hostilities” in a trial that began in May, nearly three years after his arrest. He denied his guilt.
Babariko was arrested in June 2020 along with his father Victor, a prominent banker and philanthropist.
At that time, the father was considered the main opponent in the presidential elections of Alexander Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994. The son was the head of his father’s election staff.
Lukashenko then claimed a landslide victory in presidential elections two months later, sparking the largest protests in Belarus’ modern history. He denied that there was fraud.
Victor Babariko was sentenced in 2021 to 14 years in prison on corruption charges which he denied. The court’s decision was criticized by the West and the Belarusian opposition, whose leading figures are all in exile or jailed.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
