Belarus journalist jailed for ‘facilitating extremism’ after collecting data for human rights group
1 year, 3 months ago

Belarus journalist jailed for ‘facilitating extremism’ after collecting data for human rights group

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus has sentenced a high-profile journalist to 3 1/2 years for “facilitating extremist activities” and “discrediting Belarus” after she provided data for a renowned human rights group, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said Thursday. Shchyrakova, 50, is the latest in a string of journalists jailed in Belarus after covering the large-scale political repression that has rocked the country since its last presidential elections three years ago. During proceedings, the state accused Shchyrakova of “collecting, creating, processing, storing and transmitting information” for Belarus’ leading human rights center, Viasna, as well as for television channel Belsat — which broadcasts in Belarusian from Poland. “The verdict against Larysa Shchyrakova is another reprisal aimed at taking revenge upon journalists,” the Belarusian Association of Journalists said in a statement.

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History of this topic

Belarusian authorities arrest 7 journalists who worked for an independent newspaper
1 week, 5 days ago

Belarusian authorities arrest 7 journalists who worked for an independent newspaper

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities have arrested seven journalists who worked for an independent regional news outlet, a media watchdog said Thursday, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech by the country’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said the seven — journalists who worked for Intex-Press online newspaper in the …

Belarus court jails journalist for four years for criticizing authoritarian president
Trending News
1 week, 6 days ago

Belarus court jails journalist for four years for criticizing authoritarian president

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian journalist has been sentenced to four years in prison for her critical reports chronicling a sweeping crackdown on dissent launched by the country’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Minsk City Court convicted Volha Radzivonava on Tuesday on charges of “insulting the president” and “discrediting Belarus” and sentenced her to four years in prison. “The authorities …

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months

Hindustan Times  

TALLINN, Estonia — Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends and met with her father, a human rights group said Tuesday. Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months Kolesnikova, one of the most popular and charismatic figures who helped lead protests …

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months
1 month, 1 week ago

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends and met with her father, a human rights group said Tuesday. Kolesnikova gained prominence when mass protests erupted in Belarus after the widely disputed August 2020 election gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The U.N. Human …

Belarus adds 1 year to imprisoned opposition activist’s sentence
2 months, 1 week ago

Belarus adds 1 year to imprisoned opposition activist’s sentence

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Tuesday sentenced an imprisoned opponent of hardline President Alexander Lukashenko to an additional year behind bars for disobeying prison officials. “The new sentence sounds like a death sentence, because Palina physically may not be able to withstand another circle of hell,” her husband, Andrei Sharenda, told The Associated Press. The German Embassy …

Belarus’ authoritarian leader pardons 30 out of some 1,400 political prisoners
4 months, 1 week ago

Belarus’ authoritarian leader pardons 30 out of some 1,400 political prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 prisoners convicted for taking part in protests, the presidential office said Friday. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile, welcomed the move but vowed to keep fighting until each of nearly 1,400 political prisoners in the country is set free. The Viasna human rights group estimates that Belarus now has …

EU and US call for the release of Belarus’ political prisoners on the anniversary of mass protests
4 months, 2 weeks ago

EU and US call for the release of Belarus’ political prisoners on the anniversary of mass protests

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The European Union and the United States on Friday marked the fourth anniversary of massive protests in Belarus by calling for the release of all political prisoners and voicing support for the Belarusian people. In a statement marking the anniversary, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell emphasized that “the EU remains united in its support to the …

Relatives of Belarus’ political prisoners complain that East-West swap didn’t free their loved ones
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Relatives of Belarus’ political prisoners complain that East-West swap didn’t free their loved ones

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A wave of disappointment swept over opposition activists in Belarus last week as the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War unfolded and they learned it included none of the hundreds of political detainees who’ve been locked up for years by its authoritarian leader. “I am happy to see the Russians released, but I’m shocked that …

2 Belarusian journalists sentenced to prison in a closed-door trial, rights group says
4 months, 3 weeks ago

2 Belarusian journalists sentenced to prison in a closed-door trial, rights group says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Two Belarusian journalists working for news outlets that the government of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has declared extremist have been sentenced to prison, the country’s leading human rights group said Thursday. The severe repression began when huge protests arose after the disputed 2020 presidential election that gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The rights group Viasna …

Russian American journalist gets 6½ years in prison after secret trial
5 months ago

Russian American journalist gets 6½ years in prison after secret trial

LA Times  

Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service, attends a court hearing in Kazan, Russia, on May 31. A court has convicted Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian American journalist for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, of spreading false information about the Russian army and sentenced her to 6½ years in prison after a …

UN panel calls on Belarus to release Nobel Peace laureate from prison
5 months ago

UN panel calls on Belarus to release Nobel Peace laureate from prison

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A United Nations panel of human rights experts called on Belarus to release the Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder of the country’s most respected rights group, who has been behind bars for three years. Ales Bialiatski’s imprisonment came amid a widespread harsh crackdown on opponents of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko after large and persistent protest demonstrations arose in …

Belarus broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries
5 months, 1 week ago

Belarus broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities on Wednesday expanded visa-free travel for residents of 35 European countries, including members of the European Union and the United Kingdom, as part of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’ s efforts to improve relations with the West. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said Lukashenko has approved temporary visa-free travel for citizens of European nations arriving by rail …

Belarus, in move to ‘openness,’ broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries
5 months, 1 week ago

Belarus, in move to ‘openness,’ broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries

LA Times  

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has long been close to the Kremlin, is relaxing visa restrictions on European visitors in an attempt build ties to the West. Belarusian authorities on Wednesday expanded visa-free travel for residents of 35 European countries, including members of the European Union and the United Kingdom, as part of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’ s efforts to …

Nobel laureates call on Belarus’ leader to release all political prisoners
5 months, 1 week ago

Nobel laureates call on Belarus’ leader to release all political prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Dozens of Nobel Prize laureates are calling in an open letter on Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to free all political prisoners, after 18 seriously ill activists were released this month. The Belarusian human rights group Viasna counts almost 1,400 political prisoners, including its Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder Ales Bialiatski. “You have a unique opportunity to turn …

Belarusian authorities are depriving Nobel Peace Prize laureate of medicine in jail, his wife says
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are depriving Nobel Peace Prize laureate of medicine in jail, his wife says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The wife of an imprisoned Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate said Wednesday that the country’s authorities are depriving her husband of medicine as his health deteriorates. Human rights activists claim that Belarusian authorities are deliberately creating unbearable conditions for many of them, depriving them of medical care, communication with loved ones and lawyers. “The authorities have created …

Belarusian authorities are depriving Nobel Peace Prize laureate of medicine in jail, his wife says
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are depriving Nobel Peace Prize laureate of medicine in jail, his wife says

LA Times  

Ales Bialiatski, the head of Belarusian Viasna rights group, during a court session in Minsk in 2023. The wife of an imprisoned Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate said Wednesday that the country’s authorities are depriving her husband of medicine as his health deteriorates. Human rights activists claim that Belarusian authorities are deliberately creating unbearable conditions for many of them, depriving …

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Human rights activists on Monday accused Belarusian authorities of setting unacceptable conditions for the release of political prisoners, including writing public statements admitting their guilt and repenting. There are currently 1,420 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Viasna’s Pavel Sapelka said that “dozens, not hundreds” of political prisoners were released …

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Belarus rights group says 10 ill political prisoners have been freed
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarus rights group says 10 ill political prisoners have been freed

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian human rights group said Thursday that at least 10 political prisoners have been freed since the country’s authoritarian president this week promised to release seriously ill people jailed in connection with massive protests nearly four years ago. Pavel Sapelko of the Viasna rights group told The Associated Press that none of those released are well-known …

Cancer-stricken Belarusian political prisoner is released after authoritarian president’s promise
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Cancer-stricken Belarusian political prisoner is released after authoritarian president’s promise

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent Belarusian opposition politician suffering from a severe form of cancer was released Wednesday from prison, his son-in-law said, three years after his arrest in the crackdown on dissent by the country’s authoritarian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko. Ryhor Kastusiou’s release came a day after President Lukashenko announced he would free seriously ill political who were jailed in …

UN calls on Belarus to investigate torture and death of politicial prisoners
6 months, 2 weeks ago

UN calls on Belarus to investigate torture and death of politicial prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — United Nations special representatives on human rights have called on Belarusian authorities to investigate the torture and deaths of political prisoners. The report noted that none of the deceased underwent an autopsy and said that the fact the prisoners died while in jail “creates a presumption of arbitrary deprivation of life by State authorities.” It called on …

Belarus starts proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarus starts proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities on Friday started proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts who work with the world’s biggest universities and think tanks, the latest in a yearslong crackdown on dissent in the country. In a statement, the analysts rejected the accusations against them as “absurd” and said they “don’t expect a fair trial.” …

UN human rights experts ask Belarusian authorities to help a political prisoner dying of cancer
6 months, 3 weeks ago

UN human rights experts ask Belarusian authorities to help a political prisoner dying of cancer

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — U.N. human rights experts have appealed to Belarusian authorities to help a political prisoner who has been diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer. “In light of Mr. Kuchynski’s severe health condition, please consider granting him pardon or remission of sentence or substituting his imprisonment for an alternative form of deprivation of liberty,” said the appeal signed …

Nearly 100 Belarus political prisoners have severe medical problems, rights group says
8 months ago

Nearly 100 Belarus political prisoners have severe medical problems, rights group says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Nearly 100 political prisoners in Belarus, incarcerated in a severe crackdown on dissent, have severe medical problems and could be close to death, the country’s respected human rights group Viasna said Monday. Viasna, whose Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder Ales Bialiatski is among those imprisoned in the crackdown, identified 93 prisoners of particular concern who are suffering from …

Hackers claim Belarus fertilizer plant infiltrated to demand political prisoner release
8 months ago

Hackers claim Belarus fertilizer plant infiltrated to demand political prisoner release

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian hacker activist group claims to have infiltrated computers at the country’s largest fertilizer plant to pressure the government to release political prisoners. The state-run Grodno Azot plant has made no comment on the claim by the Belarusian Cyber-Partisans group to have done damage including destroying backup systems and encrypted internal mail, document flow and hundreds …

A political prisoner in Belarus smuggles out account of beatings after writing on toilet paper
8 months, 1 week ago

A political prisoner in Belarus smuggles out account of beatings after writing on toilet paper

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A political prisoner in Belarus has shed light on the country’s brutal prison system by smuggling out her story written on pieces of toilet paper. Although most political prisoners are kept in solitary confinement, Novikava said she was kept in the same cell as Marina Zolatava, editor-in-chief of the country’s largest independent online news outlet, Tut.by, who …

Nobel laureate Bialiatski’s condition worsens after 1,000 days in Belarusian prison, his wife says
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Nobel laureate Bialiatski’s condition worsens after 1,000 days in Belarusian prison, his wife says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Ales Bialiatski marked his 1,000th day in prison in Belarus on Tuesday amid increasing fears about his deteriorating health, his wife said. Bialiatski is Belarus’ top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, founding the Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus’ most prominent human rights …

3 human rights activists arrested in Belarus as a crackdown on the opposition persists
8 months, 2 weeks ago

3 human rights activists arrested in Belarus as a crackdown on the opposition persists

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Three activists of Viasna, the main human rights group in harshly repressive Belarus, have been arrested and charged with participating in an extremist organization, state television reported Thursday. Viasna counts some 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus, including group founder Ales Bialiatski, a winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. The three activists whose arrests were reported Thursday …

An imprisoned journalist in Belarus designated a political prisoner by a leading rights group
8 months, 4 weeks ago

An imprisoned journalist in Belarus designated a political prisoner by a leading rights group

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent journalist in Belarus was designated a political prisoner on Tuesday by the country’s leading human rights group following his conviction on charges widely seen as part of an ongoing crackdown on dissent. Karnei is a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, or BAJ, the country’s top independent journalist group championing freedom of speech that …

27 Nobel laureates demand the release of political prisoners in Belarus
9 months ago

27 Nobel laureates demand the release of political prisoners in Belarus

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — In an open letter, 27 Nobel laureates have demanded the release of all political prisoners in Belarus including Ales Bialiatski, the winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel laureates said the situation in Belarus is a “humanitarian catastrophe” and called for an immediate end to political repression in the country of 9.5 million people, which …

Belarus authorities recently detained 12 lawyers who helped political prisoners, rights groups say
9 months, 1 week ago

Belarus authorities recently detained 12 lawyers who helped political prisoners, rights groups say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Authorities in Belarus detained at least 12 lawyers during mass raids late last month that targeted people who have been helping those imprisoned for political reasons, Belarusian rights groups said Tuesday. Authorities also have detained lawyers who provided legal assistance to political prisoners and their families over the past four years. Viasna has counted 1,418 political prisoners …

Thousands of Belarusians convicted on politically driven charges in sweeping crackdown on dissent
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Thousands of Belarusians convicted on politically driven charges in sweeping crackdown on dissent

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Thousands of Belarusians have been convicted on politically driven charges over the last three years as part of the authorities’ relentless crackdown on dissent, the country’s leading human rights group said Monday. The Viasna human rights center said that at least 4,690 people have been convicted on politically motivated charges since the August 2020 presidential election that …

UN experts call on authorities in Belarus to pardon a cancer-stricken imprisoned opposition leader
9 months, 3 weeks ago

UN experts call on authorities in Belarus to pardon a cancer-stricken imprisoned opposition leader

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Experts from the U.N. Human Rights Commission appealed to Belarusian authorities on Monday to pardon an opposition politician diagnosed with a severe form of cancer while in prison. The U.N. experts urged Belarusian authorities to “consider granting him a pardon or remission of sentence,” in view of Kastusiou’s “grave health condition.” Kastusiou was detained in April 2021, …

Rights center says Belarusian authorities have arrested scores of people in latest crackdown
11 months ago

Rights center says Belarusian authorities have arrested scores of people in latest crackdown

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities on Tuesday arrested several dozen people in raids marking the latest in a relentless crackdown on dissent, a local human rights center said. The Viasna center said that at least 64 people were detained across Belarus on charges of “involvement in extremist groups” and “financing extremist activities,” accusations that are routinely used to target dissenters. …

Belarus political prisoner dies after authorities fail to provide him with medical care, group says
11 months, 1 week ago

Belarus political prisoner dies after authorities fail to provide him with medical care, group says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A political prisoner has died in prison in Belarus after authorities failed to provide him with proper medical care, a human rights group said Monday, a death that spotlighted cruel conditions in Belarusian prisons. Khrasko, an information technology specialist who died at the age of 50, was serving a three-year sentence on charges of offering donations to …

Belarus political prisoners face abuse, no medical care and isolation, former inmate says
1 year ago

Belarus political prisoners face abuse, no medical care and isolation, former inmate says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — During his three years in a Belarusian penal colony, human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka says he and other political prisoners were regularly deprived of family visits, phone calls and parcels. “People disappear in Belarusian colonies and prisons, and the relatives of many political prisoners do not hear anything about them for hundreds of days.” FILE - Artist …

Rights group says security services in Belarus raid apartments and detain election observers
1 year ago

Rights group says security services in Belarus raid apartments and detain election observers

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Security services in Belarus are breaking into apartments and detaining people in their workplaces across the country as they carry out hundreds of searches among election observers ahead of next year’s vote, the Belarusian human rights center Viasna said Tuesday. Representatives from the main intelligence service, the KGB, which has retained its Soviet name, are forcing activists …

2 journalists are detained in Belarus as part of a crackdown on dissent
1 year ago

2 journalists are detained in Belarus as part of a crackdown on dissent

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Two journalists were detained in Belarus on Friday, a Belarusian journalist association reported, the latest step in a crackdown against dissent in recent years. Chief editor of the Ranak television channel, Yulia Dauletava, and correspondent Lyudmila Andenka were detained in the city of Svetlahorsk in southeastern Belarus and accused of contributing to extremist activities, the Belarusian Association …

Belarus raids apartments of opposition activists as part of sweeping probe called latest crackdown
1 year ago

Belarus raids apartments of opposition activists as part of sweeping probe called latest crackdown

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ criminal investigation agency said Tuesday that it has conducted raids as part of a sweeping probe into an alleged attempt by the opposition to seize power three years ago. “This is the authorities’ revenge against those who have demanded criminal prosecution of Lukashenko and his entourage over the crimes they have committed.” Belarus’ Investigative Committee said …

In Belarus, a dissident novelist’s father is jailed for two weeks for reposting an article
1 year, 1 month ago

In Belarus, a dissident novelist’s father is jailed for two weeks for reposting an article

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A noted Belarusian dissident author said Friday that his father has been sentenced to two weeks in jail for reposting an article from an opposition website. Alexander Filipenko was seized by police Thursday in a raid on his apartment and later “given 13 days for reposting some kind of article from Zerkalo,” his son Sasha Filipenko said …

The father of a dissident Belarusian novelist has been arrested in Minsk
1 year, 1 month ago

The father of a dissident Belarusian novelist has been arrested in Minsk

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent Belarusian dissident author who lives abroad said Thursday that his father was arrested on unclear grounds after police broke into his parents’ apartment. The seven police officers, armed with automatic weapons, also took electronics and data files from the Minsk apartment, said Sasha Filipenko. The crackdown started after a wave of protests that arose in …

Belarus puts Nobel Peace Prize winner in solitary confinement
1 year, 1 month ago

Belarus puts Nobel Peace Prize winner in solitary confinement

Firstpost  

Massive protests against a 2020 election that the opposition and many in the West perceived as a sham that extended authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’s rule prompted the arrests of Bialiatski and his colleagues Ales Bialiatski, an activist and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has been placed in solitary confinement at his Belarusian prison, his wife announced on Tuesday. Leading …

Nobel peace laureate Bialiatski has been put in solitary confinement in Belarus, his wife says
1 year, 1 month ago

Nobel peace laureate Bialiatski has been put in solitary confinement in Belarus, his wife says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Ales Bialiatski has been transferred to solitary confinement at his prison in Belarus, his wife said Tuesday. Bialiatski, Belarus’ top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, was convicted in March with three colleagues on charges of financing actions violating public order and smuggling, …

Journalist for top Polish paper allegedly denied medication in Belarusian prison
1 year, 3 months ago

Journalist for top Polish paper allegedly denied medication in Belarusian prison

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A former correspondent for a top Polish newspaper has been denied life-saving heart medication in Belarusian prison, a representative of Belarus’ largest Polish community organization told reporters Tuesday. The country’s largest and most prominent rights group, Viasna, also reported on its website that Poczobut has been transferred to a one-man “punishment cell” at a prison in Navapolatsk, …

Belarus outlaws prominent rights group Viasna, declaring it extremist
1 year, 4 months ago

Belarus outlaws prominent rights group Viasna, declaring it extremist

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities Wednesday declared the country’s oldest and most prominent human rights group an extremist organization. The move against Viasna, founded by imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, comes amid a yearslong crackdown on dissent in Belarus and exposes anyone involved in its activities to criminal prosecution. Viasna has branches in the majority of the country’s …

Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition
1 year, 4 months ago

Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent journalist in Belarus was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. On trial in the city of Grodno in western Belarus, Pavel Mazheika, 45, was found guilty of “complicity in extremist activity” for covering the activities of the political …

Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent
1 year, 5 months ago

Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Authorities in Belarus have arrested a prominent journalist who has written for the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the latest step in a yearslong crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. Belarus’ oldest and most prominent human rights group, Viasna, reported that Karnei has been placed in the Akrestina pretrial detention center, notorious for …

Belarusian journalist faces up to 6 years in prison for opposition reporting
1 year, 5 months ago

Belarusian journalist faces up to 6 years in prison for opposition reporting

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent journalist went on trial in Belarus Monday, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. The Belarusian authorities have labeled Belsat as “extremist.” Journalists and activists in Belarus have faced large-scale repression since the August 2020 vote that handed a sixth term to President Alexander Lukashenko. Mazheika …

Belarus hands lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of 2020 protests
1 year, 6 months ago

Belarus hands lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of 2020 protests

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Wednesday handed lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of mass anti-government protests that shook the country in 2020, the latest step in a brutal years-long effort to stifle all and any dissent. According to the authorities, the protesters formed a resistance movement, attacked law enforcement officers, carried out acts of sabotage and …

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