MINSK -- Leaders of the defunct Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) have gone on trial as a crackdown against dissent continues in the country led by authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The Minsk City Court began the trial of BDKP's chairman Alyaksandr Yarashuk, his deputy Syarhey Antusevich, and associate Iryna But-Husaim, on December 20.
The trio was arrested in April and charged with the "organization, preparation of, or active participation in actions that blatantly disrupt social order."
The charge was related to the group's activities related to protests against the official results of an August 2020 presidential election that announced Lukashenka as the winner. Many in Belarus have said the election was rigged.
Yarashuk was additionally charged with calling for international sanctions against Belarus. His supporters insist he, on the contrary, had made the case against imposing international sanctions on the country.
Some reports say the additional charge was based on data found by investigators in Yarashuk's computer.
The state BelTA news agency says all three pleaded guilty. The defendants' lawyers refused to provide journalists with any information related to the case, saying they signed a nondisclosure agreement with investigators.
In July, the Supreme Court of Belarus shut down BKDP, saying its activities violated the country's constitution and other laws.
Lukashenka, 68, has tightened his grip on the country since the disputed election by arresting -- sometimes violently -- tens of thousands of people. Fearing for their safety, most opposition members have fled the country.
The West has refused to recognize the results of the election and does not consider Lukashenka to be the country's legitimate leader.
Many countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against his regime in response to the suppression of dissent in the country.