Belarusian activist tried to commit suicide in courtroom

Belarusian democracy activist Stsiapan Latypau tried to cut his throat today, as he was faced with charges of staging actions violating public order, with an expected prison sentence of 10 years.

Latypau, who has been held in prison for months, was active in the protest movement against Lukashenko during the 2020 falsified elections. One of his recorded activities has been handing out flowers to protesting women in an act of support.

Reports say that Belarusian authorities have threatened to open criminal cases against his family and friends if he did not plead guilty. He is now in coma.