Borrell condemns Belarus for giving 'unjustified' prison sentences to 5 opposition figures in exile

The European Union on Tuesday condemned the "absurd" prison sentences delivered by Belarus against five opposition figures in exile.

"Yesterday, (President Alexander) Lukashenko’s regime reached a new low in its attempts to silence those who stand up in defense of the fundamental freedoms of the people in Belarus and challenge his illegitimate regime," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"Five prominent representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition in exile were sentenced to long and unjustified prison sentences, in absentia and in closed trials," he added.