MINSK. Oct 22 (Interfax) - More than 400 criminal cases have been opened in Belarus over unauthorized protests.
"More than 400 criminal cases have been opened since August 9 in connection with riots, the organization of and preparations for actions that massively violate the public order, in connection with resistance, violence, or a threat to use violence against a police officer, desecration and damage to property, and hooliganism," spokesperson for the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office Dmitry Brylev said. His comments were published on the Telegram channel of the Prosecutor General's Office on Thursday.
Prosecutors have now sent more than 40 criminal cases to courts, Brylev said. Accused persons often compensate for damages voluntarily during the preliminary investigation, he said. This applies to situations of damage to police vehicles, monuments, the surfaces of roads, and state symbols.
Some people have already been convicted, and some have received prison sentences. "Bearing in mind the circumstances of the crimes, state prosecutors urge the courts to hand down the harshest punishment possible," Brylev said.
Belarus has seen protests against the officially announced outcome of the August 9 presidential election for a third month. Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner of the election. Lukashenko has been in office since 1994. The protesters have refused to recognize the results of the election as announced by the administration and consider them falsified.