Political persecution in Belarus has been continuing throughout the entire election campaign. Up until election day on 9 August, 24 people were arrested on trumped-up criminal charges, among them were two potential presidential candidates - Viktor Babariko (arrested with his son) and Sergei Tikhanovsky. More than 1,000 people were subjected to detention, short-term arrests, and fines. Most of them were members of initiative groups of alternative candidates, journalists, bloggers, participants of campaign events and the collection of signatures for the nomination of presidential candidates, those who took part in protests and solidarity rallies.
