Belarus convicts a journalist and sentences him to 3.5 years in prison
Authorities also fined Kiryl Pazniak about $8,500 after convicting him on charges widely used against critical voices, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
- On Thursday, a Belarusian court sentenced journalist Kiryl Pazniak to 3.5 years in prison for discrediting the state and forming an extremist organization, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported. He was also ordered to pay roughly $8,500.
- Authorities arrested Pazniak in September 2025 while he hosted a popular political show on YouTube. Human rights defenders have designated him a political prisoner amid Belarus's broader crackdown on dissent.
- Behind bars, Pazniak contracted pneumonia and COVID-19, with his ex-wife Elena reporting he was placed in a prison hospital in serious condition. Andrei Bastunets, leader of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, said Pazniak "nearly died behind bars."
- This conviction underscores persistent repression of free speech in Belarus, where Viasna reports 21 journalists remain behind bars among 863 total political prisoners currently held by authorities.
- Despite American-brokered prisoner releases following President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, Alexander Lukashenko continues his aggressive campaign against independent media and dissent.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The independent Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) announced the journalist's sentence on Thursday. According to the organization, Paźniak's prison sentence is another manifestation of the Belarusian authorities' crackdown on freedom of speech, and the charges against him are widely used to suppress anti-government criticism. Paźniak was also sentenced to a fine equivalent to approximately $8,500. The journalist was arrested in Septembe…
A court in Belarus has sentenced journalist Kiryl Paznyak to 3.5 years in prison for discrediting the country and creating an extremist organization. The AP reported today, saying it was another attempt by the regime of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to suppress freedom of expression. Paznyak had been in conflict with the authorities over his YouTube show, where he organized debates between regime officials and exiled opposition fi…
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- 39% of the sources lean Left, 38% of the sources are Center
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