BELARUS: A Belarussian opposition leader who challenged President Alexander Lukashenko's bid to win a third term in office and helped stage protests against his landslide victory was jailed for five-and-a-half years yesterday.
Mr Alexander Kozulin (51), was one of two opposition candidates who ran against Mr Lukashenko, accused in the West of rigging the election and of crushing basic rights during 12 years in power.
The former university rector, convicted of hooliganism and incitement to mass disorder, was a key figure in unprecedented protests of up to 10,000 people after Mr Lukashenko was declared the winner with 83 per cent of the vote.
"Five-and-a-half years. Such a sentence is utter blasphemy," the defendant's weeping wife, Irina Kozulina, said after emerging from the court and breaking the news to reporters.
"We intend to appeal. There is, of course little hope in this country. But we have to go through the proper procedures."
Mr Kozulin came last in a field of four candidates with 2 per cent of the vote and was arrested nearly a week after the election.