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BELARUSIAN President Alexander Lukashenko signed a new law today threatening demonstrators with years in prison — the latest move in a crackdown on protests against his rule.
The law envisages a new prison sentence of up to three years for participants in unsanctioned protests.
Previously, taking part in unauthorised demonstrations was punishable by fines or brief jail terms ranging from several days to two weeks.
Mr Lukashenko has faced months of protests fuelled by his re-election to a sixth term in a contested election last August.
Authorities have since responded to demonstrations with a fierce crackdown in which more than 35,000 people have been arrested and thousands beaten by police.
The new Bill also introduces two-year prison terms for posting “banned information” online.
It follows up on another new law banning the media from doing live reports on unauthorised demonstrations and allowing the Information Ministry to shut down media organisations without a court order.
