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Prison or exile that s the choice standing before many opposition politicians in Belarus under the rule of Alexander Lukashenko, Belrus president for more than 26 years. Now journalists there are facing similar threats. Yesterday, two independent journalists, Katerina Andreyeva and Daria Chultsova, were sentenced to two years in prison for covering protests. Belarusian authorities say they violated the public order and fomented protests. Host Marco Werman speaks with Katia Glod, Belarus analyst with CEPA, the Center for European Policy Analysis.
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Six months on from Belarus disputed presidential election, protesters continue to take to the streets in weekly demonstrations demanding the resignation of Alexander Lukashenko and a new vote.
The leader, dubbed Europe s last dictator , has overseen sweeping crackdowns on the demonstrators with swathes beaten and arrested, while his most prominent political opponents have been jailed or forced to flee the country.
Numbers at rallies have been dwindling in recent months and pressures that the leader faced when he announced a meeting of the all-Belarusian People s Assembly this week on February 11 and 12 to discuss constitutional reforms have eased.
Could constitutional change really be afoot in Belarus and how did we get here?