The political persecution in this case has moved into a criminal trial.
Political persecution can refer to political repression, which is when a state entity controls a citizenry by force for political reasons. This can include:
Fear tactics like torture, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and political imprisonment
Restricting civil liberties like freedom of movement, association, speech, and assembly
Internet censorship
Unfair administrative hurdles for registering demonstrations
Ban on political parties
Restricting access to information
Tracking the political opposition
Acts of violence