Noted Belarusian Athlete Nadzeya Astapchuk Arrested In Minsk On Unknown Charges

A noted Belarusian athlete Nadzeya Astapchuk has been arrested on unspecified charges in Minsk, an NGO said on December 15. Astapchuk, a well-known shot putter, is an outspoken critic of Belarusian authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka. She sold the gold medal she won at the European Championship in 2005 for $11,100 at an auction and gave the money to support Belarusian athletes and political prisoners who faced persecution following the August 2020 presidential poll that oppositionists and the West say was rigged. To read the original story from RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.