Catholic #priest in Belarus sentenced to 11 years - for criticising the government, as crackdown tightens

In the first case of politically-driven charges against #Catholic clergy since #Belarus became independent after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

euronews.com/2024/12/30/cathol…

Catholic priest in Belarus sentenced to 11 years as crackdown tightens

'The harsh sentence is intended to intimidate and silence hundreds of other priests ahead of January's presidential election,' human rights activist Pavel Sapelka said.

^{Daniel Bellamy (Euronews.com)}