MINSK, October 5 (Reuters) - A court in Minsk has sentenced twelve individuals to prison terms ranging from two to 25 years for their involvement in what the Belarusian government has termed an 'act of terrorism' at a military airfield near the capital last year.
In February 2023, a group of Belarusian anti-government activists claimed responsibility for a drone attack that targeted a Russian military surveillance aircraft at the base. The incident was met with skepticism from both Russia and Belarus, with state media releasing footage asserting the aircraft remained undamaged.
Following the attack, Belarusian authorities stated they had apprehended a 'terrorist' and over twenty accomplices linked to the sabotage attempt. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Ukrainian security services and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency of orchestrating the attack, claiming the aircraft sustained only minor damage.
On Friday, the General Prosecutor's office announced the convictions, with the main defendant, Ukrainian national Nikolai Shvets, sentenced in absentia to 25 years. Shvets had previously detailed the attack in an interview with state television and was released in a prisoner exchange with Ukraine in June. The exact number of those sentenced in absentia remains unclear.
This development underscores the ongoing tensions between Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, with implications for regional security and international relations.