Jelena Leutjanka, 37, is one of the biggest basketball stars in Belarus and she is one of many sports stars who have been active in the protests against President Lukashenko.
On Wednesday, she was to leave the country for medical treatment when she was arrested at the airport in Minsk.
She was sentenced to the maximum sentence, 15 days in jail.
- The athletes have been very important for Lukashenko's regime.
He has given a lot of money to sports and then you demand loyalty back.
Many elite athletes went out in protest already in August and so did Leutjanka.
It has attracted a lot of attention and when she is arrested, it is a big event, says SVT's foreign reporter in Belarus, Elin Jönsson.
Have you been refined by this type of arrest?
- Absolutely.
There have been many strange arrests of people who have been accused of demonstrating, even though they have not even taken part in the demonstrations.
Many of those who have previously been loyal and now went out against the regime are punished in this way.
If you are a famous person and go out like this openly, the regime will fight back.
It comes as no surprise, says Jönsson and continues:
- The athletes have come out clearly.
They have joined forces in an association and received a lot of media attention.
It is clear that everyone is still appalled by what is happening and that she was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 15 days.
Jönsson says that many athletes and other famous people have been affected.
- Lukashenko has been the hardest hit against a Thai boxer named Alexei Kudin.
He was very badly beaten when he was arrested and he has been locked up for more than a month.
He is accused of beating a police officer.
It also received a lot of attention.
- They try to strike at all levels and especially against those who can get people with them.
At first, they tried to make it look like only activists were paid by the West to demonstrate.
But when those who have previously been loyal go out and demonstrate, like Jelena Leutjanka, it shows that it is not just extreme activists who are out.
In recent days, text messages have also been sent to everyone, regardless of whether they have demonstrated or not, stating that they risk imprisonment if they demonstrate.
- He puts in everything he has, but there are still as many out there demonstrating.
The athletes have been an important part of the demonstrations and they have gone out every Sunday.
It continues, no one has given up.
In protest against the arrest of Leutjanka, they have called for a boycott of all sports competitions in Belarus and some federations have also said that they will stop playing matches.
It is also urged internationally not to cooperate with Belarus in sports, says Jönsson.
ARCHIVE: Belarus: Europe's last dictatorship in 60 seconds 18/8 2020
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Belarus: Europe's last dictatorship in 60 seconds Photo: Dmitri Lovetsky / AP / TT