The Supreme Court in the capital Minsk sentenced former banker and prominent opposition figure Viktor Babariko for alleged money laundering, bribery and tax evasion
In December a majority of centre-right Swedish lawmakers said "Sweden should, like Finland , state that it is in favour of having a 'NATO option,'" referring to the defence alliance.
The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, members of the so-called Visegrad Group, will present a proposal to the European Council that visa-free travel be introduced for Belarusian citizens.
Criminal charges would be filed Monday over the deaths of two protesters and the violent response of police and the security forces against protesters and prisoners.