Ihar Losik, a popular Belarusian blogger, was facing a possible three-year prison term after his June arrest ahead of the disputed presidential election that has triggered a wave of protests — and a harsh crackdown by the authorities under Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the authoritarian leader in power since 1994.
On December 15, Losik, who is a consultant for RFE/RL on new media technologies, was slapped with fresh charges that could result in an eight-year prison term if he is convicted. In protest, Losik, who has been recognized as a political prisoner by rights activists, launched a hunger strike. Continue
