Protests>> Human Rights • Belarus
On November 11, a court in Belarus sentenced a middle-aged man, Leanid Smouzh, to five days in jail for wearing a T-shirt with a slogan that called for the resignation of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Smouzh told Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty that he opposed Lukashenka’s policies, particularly the proposed “tax on idleness” under which unemployed citizens may have to pay penalties to the state. Lukashenka’s regime has been accused of human rights violations since it came to power two decades ago. The T-shirt incident underscores its intolerance to criticism. In 2011, dozens of people were jailed for clapping in unison to protest Lukashenka’s policies. n
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