Dymna Lotva Vocalist to Stand Trial in Absentia in Belarus

Katsiaryna Mankevich, the 37-year-old vocalist of the band Dymna Lotva, will stand trial in absentia in Belarus. The criminal case is scheduled to be heard at the Minsk City Court on Aug. 14, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reports.

Mankevich is charged with promoting terrorism (Part 1, Article 289-1 of the Criminal Code), financing “terrorist activities” (Part 1, Article 290-1), facilitating “extremist activities” (Parts 1 and 2, Article 361-4), insulting Aliaksandr Lukashenka (Part 1, Article 368), and violence or threats of violence against Lukashenka (Article 366-1).

Katsiaryna Mankevich is a musician and the vocalist of the metal bands Dymna Lotva and Hangover in Minsk.