Belarus sentences ex-presidential candidate to 18 months in prison

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Andrey Dmitriev addresses the media in front of the parliament building in Minsk, Belarus August 4, 2020. The writing on the podium reads: "Belarus needs a new president". REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko/File Photo

(Reuters) - A Belarus court on Thursday sentenced a politician who stood against leader Alexander Lukashenko in a disputed presidential election in 2020 to 18 months in prison on Thursday, for taking part in widespread protests against the result of the vote.

Andrei Dmitriev, 41, who also led an anti-Lukashenko social movement, was sentenced in the capital Minsk, the Viasna human rights group said. He pleaded guilty to participating in the protests.