In the Belarusian city of Gomel, 52-year-old Roman Dzemidav has been sentenced to imprisonment for insulting President Alexander Lukashenko and assisting in “extremist activities.” Under such charges in Belarus, authorities typically classify any criticism of the government on social media or sharing information with independent media—banned by the regime—as extremism.
The exact sentence has not yet been confirmed, but he is likely to face forced labor in a penal colony or a correctional facility. The case was made public by the human rights group Viasna, which warns of the brutal suppression of freedom of speech. In Belarus, such political trials have become routine, as the state—following a Soviet-style model—harshly punishes any dissent or expression of views that do not align with official policy.
