Opposition Leader Gets 5 1/2 Years in Prison
From Times Wire Reports
A Belarusian opposition leader who challenged President Alexander G. Lukashenko’s bid to win a third term and helped stage protests against his landslide victory was jailed for 5 1/2 years.
Alexander Kozulin, 51, was convicted of hooliganism and incitement to mass disorder. “Such a sentence is utter blasphemy,” the defendant’s wife, Irina Kozulina, said.
He was one of two opposition candidates who ran against Lukashenko, whom the West accused of rigging the election.
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