News
All-National TV anchor Dzmitry Semchanka's trial starts today
On 21 March, the trial of political TV commentator Dzmitry Semchanka started at Minsk City Court. The well-known regime promoter and head of the presidential pool of journalists was accused of "incitement of social hatred" by means of derogatory comments in Telegram groups. The maximum penalty under this article is up to five years in prison
Journalist Ihar Losik attempts suicide in jail
Political prisoner Ihar Losik attempted suicide in the correctional facility, as reported by the Viasna human rights center.
Two TUT.BY media workers sentenced to 12 years in prison, three more wanted
On 17 March, Minsk City Court read out the sentence in the TUT.BY case.
Infa-Kurier's editor-in-chief and his deputy detained for 15 days for defying police
Slutsk District Court arrested the chief editor and owner of Infa-Kurier, Siarhei Stankevich, and his deputy Aleh Rubchenia for 15 days for defying the police, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.
Valeryia Kastsiuhova and Tatsiana Kuzina sentenced to 10 years in prison
On 17 March, Minsk City Court supported the prosecutor's request and sentenced media expert Valeryia Kastsiuhova and public administration manager Tatsiana Kuzina to 10 years in a general-regime correctional facility. The trial was held behind closed doors.
Regional mass media representatives searched and detained
According to BAJ sources, on 15 March, law enforcers searched the editorial office of Slutsk independent publication Infa-Kurier. A search was also conducted in the house of Aliaksandr Mantsevich, editor-in-chief of Rehiyanalnaya Hazeta.
Prosecutor Seeks 10-Year Prison Terms For Belarusian Activists Considered Political Prisoners
MINSK -- The prosecutor at the trial of two activists in Belarus -- Valeryya Kastsyuhova and Tatsyana Kuzina -- has asked a court in Minsk to convict the two women and sentence them to 10 years in prison each as part of an ongoing crackdown on dissent under authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Viasna leadership receives from 7 to 10 years in jail
Judge Maryna Zapasnik of the Lieninski District Court of Minsk decided that the guilt of human rights defenders of “smuggling by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and “financing of group actions grossly violating the public order” under Part 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code has been fully proven.
Convicted journalist Iryna Slaunikava’s vision deteriorated
Iryna Slaunikava, convicted to 5 years imprisonment for allegedly “creating an extremist formation”, reported vision changes that she attributed to bad lighting in the pre-trial detention center where she had been kept. The workload in the sewing shop of the Homel women’s penitentiary only aggravates the situation. Aliaksandr Loika, Iryna’s husband said that convicted women work as virtually free seamstresses in prison. They have almost no free time because of work.
Andrzej Poczobut placed in solitary confinement
Journalist Andrzej Poczobut was previously sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment.
Independent Belarusian journalist based in US wanted in Belarus
Law enforcers paid a visit to Aliaksandr Pazniak’s family home to specify his whereabouts. Pazniak used to work as a reporter at a regional media outlet in Brest. The reason for the increased interest was never disclosed.
Convicted journalist Ihar Losik summoned to Baranavichy court
RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik was detained on 25 June 2020 and is now serving a 15-year sentence. He has recently been summoned to Baranavichy District Court hearing in March for the consideration of the debt recovery case.