The USA condemns yesterday's sentence of human rights activist Marfa Rabkova and nine other political prisoners.

This is stated in the message of the US Embassy in Belarus on Twitter:

"The USA condemns the shameful sentence of human rights defender Marfa Rabkova and 9 other political prisoners.

We have united with our partners from the European Union and the people of Belarus to hold the regime accountable for these flagrant violations of human rights and dignity," the report notes.

In support of the convicted political prisoners, the Special Representative of the European Union for Human Rights

Eamon Gilmore also spoke:

"Today @viasna96 volunteers Marfa Rabkova (27), Andrei Chapyuk (26) and 8 other political prisoners were sentenced to 94 years in prison in a closed trial.

The EC calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all more than 1,300 political prisoners," he wrote.

The OSCE Bureau of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights called the verdicts of Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapyuk a new evidence of repression against human rights defenders in Belarus:

"The space in which human rights defenders in Belarus can carry out their important work continues to narrow," the director of the bureau,

Matteo Mecacci

, said on September 6 .

"These verdicts are another evidence of organized repression against human rights defenders, which binds everyone who actively fights against human rights violations and defends basic freedoms in the country."

Myakacchi emphasized that the OSCE ODIHR is still ready to help Belarus bring it into line with international standards and ensure the protection of human rights for everyone.

"In this context, the ODIHR is deeply concerned about violations of the right to a fair trial, including closed trials, as well as unreasonable and excessive sentences handed down to human rights defenders," the statement said.

The trial of the "Revolutionary Action" case against ten police prisoners dragged on for more than 4 months.

Human rights defender

Marfa Rabkova,

volunteer of the "Viasna" HRC

Andrei Chapyuk,

anarchists

Akihir Gajeuski-Khanada, Alexander Frantzkevich, Alexander Kazlienko,

anti-racist

Andrei Marach,

as well as

Pavlo Shpetny, Aleksey Galauko, Danilo Chulya

, and

Nikita Drants

were tried for the events of 2016-2020.

As the human rights center "Viasna" reports, on September 6, judge

Siarhei Khrypach

sentenced the political prisoners to the following terms:

  • To Alexander Frantzkevich

    - 17 years in prison under strict regime and a fine of 700 basic units (22,400 Belarusian rubles, or over 8,800 dollars);

  • Akihiro Gaevski-Khanado

    - 16 years of prison under the conditions of the enhanced regime and a fine in the amount of 700 basic units (22,400 Belarusian rubles, or more than 8,800 dollars);

  • Marfa Rabkova

    — 15 years in prison under the general regime and a fine of 700 base units (22,400 Belarusian rubles, or over $8,800);

  • Alyaksei Galauko

    - 12 years of prison in the conditions of the enhanced regime and a fine in the amount of 700 basic values ​​(22,400 Belarusian rubles, or more than 8,800 dollars);

  • Pavel Shpetna, Nikita Drants, Alexander Kazlyanka, Andrey Chapyuk

    - 6 years in prison under the enhanced regime and a fine in the amount of 500 base units (16,000 Belarusian rubles, or over $6,300);

  • Andrey Marach, Danilo Chul

    - 5 years in prison under the conditions of the enhanced regime and a fine of 500 basic values ​​(16,000 Belarusian rubles, or over 6,300 dollars).