Ukrainian father-son couple sentenced to 20 years in prison in Belarus for terrorism

TALLINN, Estonia — A father and son from Ukraine have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Belarus after being convicted of preparing terrorist acts.

A court in the city of Gomel on Wednesday pronounced the conviction and sentence of Serhiy Kabarchuk and his son Pavlo.

Both were arrested in February for allegedly amassing a cache of weapons and explosives. State television later showed footage in which the Kabarchuks said they were acting under the direction of Ukraine’s SBU security service.

Many observers claim that such confessions are made under duress on television in the authoritarian country.

Belarus has long borders with both Ukraine and Russia. Russian troops are stationed in Belarus and have been deployed from there in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Belarus also hosts an unspecified number of Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

Ukraine made no immediate comment on the convictions.