RSF unveils portraits of journalists detained in Belarus

When tens of thousands of people reacted to the regime’s conduct of the polling by taking to the streets to peacefully demand honest and transparent elections, the authorities immediately began targeting journalists, especially those reporting the unprecedented scale of these protests and the force used to disperse them.

Since then, there has been no let-up for Belarus’s journalists, whose work now constitutes an all-out battle against the system of repression put in place by the authorities to silence them. After a complete Internet shutdown during the three days following the election and the ensuing mass arrests of reporters, which were often accompanied by violence, the authorities began targeting those managing media outlets.

Dozens of media outlets have been banned and their websites have been blocked. Much of the content they publish is labelled as “extremist” and cannot be shared on social media without risk of imprisonment. Most news organisations and the homes of many of their employees have been subjected to raids in which equipment, documents and money were seized.

The threats and the impossibility of working legally in Belarus have forced many journalists to flee the country and relocate their media outlets abroad, either totally or partly. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), RSF’s partner and the main source of support for independent media for 25 years, was declared an “extremist organisation” by the KGB at the end of February 2023. Awarded the 2022 UNESCO-Guillermo Cano Prize for its exceptional contribution to the defence of press freedom, the BAJ was officially dissolved by the supreme court in August 2021.

Despite the hostility of the environment, which has worsened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, journalists working for independent media – both within Ukraine and abroad – are continuing to do their job of providing reliable, independent and honest reporting in defiance of the state propaganda and disinformation orchestrated by Russia. Their resistance is also a tribute to the work of their imprisoned colleagues.

A total of 38 media workers are currently in prison in Belarus.

Ihar Losik

Founder of the Telegram channel Belarus Golovnogo Mozga, consultant for Radio Svaboda (RFE/RL)

Charges: organisation of riots (part 1 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code), incitement to hatred (art.130)

Jailed since: 25 June 2020

Judicial situation: sentenced on 14 December 2021 to 15 years in prison

Eduard Palchys

Founder of the 1863x.com website

Charges: organisation of riots (part 1 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code), organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them (art. 342), calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security (art. 361), incitement to hatred (art.130)

Jailed since: 27 September 2020

Judicial situation: sentenced on 17 December 2021 to 13 years in prison

Katsiaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava)

Journalist at Belsat TV

Charges: organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them (art. 342 of the Criminal Code), high treason (art. 356)

Jailed since: 15 November 2020

Judicial situation: sentenced on 18 February 2021 to 2 years in prison, sentenced on 13 July 2022 to 8 years and 3 months in prison  

Andrei Aliaksandrau

Founder and chief editor of the news website Belaruski Zhurnal, former deputy director of BelaPAN

Charges: organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them (art. 342 of the Criminal Code), evasion of taxes and fees (art. 243), high treason (art. 356), creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1)

Jailed since: 12 January 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 6 October 2022 to 14 years in prison

Dzianis Ivashyn

Investigative journalist at Novy Chas, editor of the InformNapalm news website

Charges: interference in the activities of a police officer (art. 365 of the Criminal Code), high treason (art. 356)

Jailed since: 12 March 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 14 September 2022  to 13 years and 1 month in prison

Andrzej Poczobut

Correspondent of the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza 

Charges: incitement to hatred (art.130 of the Criminal Code), calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security (art. 361)

Jailed since: 25 March 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 8 February 2023 to 8 years in prison

Maryna Zolatava

Editor-in-chief of Tut.by

Charges: incitement to hatred (art.130) & calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security (art. 361)

Jailed since: 18 May 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 17 March 2023 to 12 years in prison

Liudmila Chekina

General director of TUT.BY

Charges: evasion of taxes and fees (art. 243 of the Criminal Code), incitement to hatred (art.130), calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security (art. 361)

Jailed since: 18 May 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 17 March 2023 to 12 years in prison

Valeriya Kastsiuhova

Editor at the Belarusian Yearbook

Charges: calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security (art. 361 of the Criminal Code), conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way (art. 357)

Jailed since: 30 June 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 17 March 2023 to 10 years in prison

Dzmitry Navazhylau

Former director of BelaPAN

Charges: evasion of taxes and fees (art. 243 of the Criminal Code), creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1)

Jailed since: 18 August 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 6 October 2022 to 6 years in prison 

Iryna Slaunikava

Journalist at Belsat TV 

Charges: organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them (art. 342 of the Criminal Code), creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1)

Jailed since: 30 October 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 3 August 2022 to 5 years in prison

Andrei Kuznechyk

Journalist at Radio Svaboda (RFE/RL)

Charges: creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since: 25 November 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 8 June 2022 to 6 years in prison

Siarhei Satsuk

Editor-in-chief of Ejednevnik (EJ.BY)

Charges: taking a bribe (art. 430 of the Criminal Code), incitement to hatred (art.130), abuse of power or official position (article 426).

Jailed since: 8 December 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 26 October 2022 to 8 years in prison 

Kanstantsin Zalatykh

Director of Belorusy i Rynok

Charges: incitement to hatred (art.130 of the Criminal Code),  insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus (art. 368),  insulting a government official (art. 369), abuse of power or official position (article 426).

Jailed since: 18 May 2021

Judicial situation: sentenced on 6 April 2023 to 4 years in prison

Aliaksandr Lyubyanchuk

Ex-journalist at Belsat TV

Charges: creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since :  26 May 2022 

Judicial situation: sentenced on 27 October 2022 to 3 years in prison

Pavel Mazheika

Journalist and director of the center for cultural life of Hrodna

Charges: promotion of extremist activities (article 361-4 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since: 30 August 2022

Judicial situation: sentenced on 26 July 2023 to 6 years in prison

Yauhen Merkis

Ex-Belsat correspondent

Charges: creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code), promotion of extremist activities (article 361-4)

Jailed since: 13 September 2022

Judicial situation: sentenced on 30 May 2023 to 4 years in prison

Dzmitry Semchanka

Ex-head of the presidential pool of journalists on ONT

Charges: distribution of extremist materials (art.19.11 of the Criminal Code), incitement to hatred (art.130)

Jailed since: 15 September 2022

Judicial situation:  sentenced on 16 September 2022 to 15 days in prison and to 13 days on 3 October, sentenced on 23 March 2023 to 3 years in prison

Larysa Shchyrakova

Ex-journalist in Homiel

Charges: discrediting the Republic of Belarus (article 369-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since: 6 December 2022

Judicial situation: sentenced on 31 August 2023 to 3 and a half years in prison

Pavel Padabed
Freelance cameraman

Charges : promotion of extremist activities (article 361-4 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since : 20 January 2023

Judicial : sentenced on 30 June 2023 to 4 years in prison
 

Viachaslau Lazarau
Freelance cameraman, ex-Belsat

Charges: promotion of extremist activities (article 361-4 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since : 9 February 2023

Judicial situation :  sentenced on 25 September 2023  to 5 and a half years in prison

Valery Yudzin

Freelance photojournalist, founder of “Your city Hrodna"

Charges : unknown 

Jailed since : 10 March 2023

Judicial situation : on remand, awaiting trail

Aliaksandr Mantsevich

Owner and editor-in-chief of Rehiianalnaia Hazeta

Charges : discrediting the Republic of Belarus (article 369-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since : 15 March 2023

Judicial situation : sentenced on 3 November 2023 to 4 years in prison

Ihar Karnei

Freelance journalist

Charges : creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code), malicious disobedience to the demands of administration of the correctional institution (art. 411) 

Jailed since : 17 July 2023

Judicial situation : sentenced on 22 March 2024 to 3 years in prison and on 13 December 2024 to 8 more months in prison 

Aliaksandr Ihnatsyuk 

Blogger from Pinsk region

Charges : extortion (article 208 of the Criminal Code), repeated libel against the President (art. 367-2), organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them (art. 342-1).

Jailed since : 18 July 2023

Judicial situation : sentenced on 5 April 2024 to 6 years in prison

Vital Paliakou

 ABW.by Director

Charges : unknown

Jailed since : 27 October 2023

Judicial situation : on remand 

Ales Sabaleuski

Ex-journalist of 6TV.by 

Charges : creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code), participation or intention to participate in an armed conflict abroad. (art. 361-3)

Jailed since : 12 December 2023

Judicial situation : sentenced on 31 July 2024 to 4 years in prison

Aliaksandr Ziankou

Journalist and photographer, Ex-Belsat 

Charges: creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since: 22 June 2023

Judicial situation: sentenced on 30 January 2024 to 3 years in prison

Yauhen Hlushkou

Ex-journalist of 6TV.by

Charges: creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code), participation or intention to participate in an armed conflict abroad. (art. 361-3)

Jailed since: 4 January 2024

Judicial situation: sentenced on 31 July 2024 to 3 years in prison

Anastasiya Matsiash

Translator, ex-Belsat

Charges : creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since: 15 November 2023

Judicial situation: sentenced on 19 April 2024 to 2 years in prison

Ales Marchanka

Cameraman, ex-Belsat

Charges: creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code)

Jailed since: 19 October 2023

Judicial situation: sentenced on 2 April 2024 to 3 years in prison

Alena Tsimashchuk

Freelance journalist in Brest

Charges: discrediting the Republic of Belarus (article 369-1 of the Criminal Code), incitement to hatred (art.130), creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it (art. 361-1)

Jailed since: unknown

Judicial situation: sentenced on 3 June 2024 to 5 years in prison

Yauhen Mikalaevich

Journalist, ex-Media-Polesye

Charges : organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them (art. 342 of the Criminal Code) 

Jailed since : unknown (before September 19, 2024) 

Judicial situation : sentenced (date and sentence unknown) 

Danil Palianski

Freelance cameraman 

Charges : high treason (art. 356 of the Criminal Code) 

Jailed since : unknown (after 19 September 2024)

Judicial situation : on remand

Ihar Ilyash

Independent journalist

Charges : unknown

Jailed since : 22 october 2024

Judicial situation : on remand

Siarhei Chabotska

Owner of the local news website s13.ru

Charges : violation of the procedure for organizing or holding a mass event (art. 24.23 of the Administrative Code) 

Jailed since : 23, 24 or 25 October 2024

Judicial situation : sentenced on 25 October 2024 to 15 days in prison, then hold on remand

Volha Radzivonava

Journalist 

Charges : repeated libel against the President (art. 367 of the Criminal Code), discrediting the Republic of Belarus (art. 369-1), incitement to hatred (art.130), insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus (art. 368)

Jailed since : 7 March 2024

Judicial situation : sentenced on 10 December 2024 to 4 years in prison

Andrei Tolchyn

Videographer, ex-Belsat 

Charges: unknown

Jailed since: unknown (between September 16 and December 6, 2024)

Judicial situation: on remand