The Minsk City Court on September 10 started the trial of Belarusian historian Ihar Melnikau on a charge of facilitating extremist activities. It is unclear what the charge stems from. The 44-year-old historian was arrested in January. If convicted, Melnikau would face up to seven years in prison. Former Belarusian presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich told RFE/RL that Melnikau's case appears to be connected to his work on historical ties between Belarus and Poland contradicting the stance of pro-Moscow historians and the concept formed during the Soviet era and promoted by authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Belarusian Historian Ihar Melnikau Goes On Trial On Extremism Charge
Historian Ihar Melnikau has written about the historical ties between Belarus and Poland, contradicting the stance of pro-Moscow historians. (file photo)