Historian given four years in prison over Euroradio interview

September 13, Pozirk. Judge Michaił Makarevič has sentenced prominent historian Ihar Mielnikaŭ to four years in prison over an interview he had given to Euroradio in Poland a few months before Belarus designated the media outlet an extremist group.
The defendant, accused of facilitating extremism, pleaded guilty, the Minsk Prosecutor’s Office reported.
The historian was arrested earlier this year over his January 2022 interview about his research and exhibition in Warsaw.
Belarusian prosecutors charged that it helped promote “extremist activities” among larger audiences despite the fact that the interior ministry blacklisted Euroradio as an extremist group only in July 2022.
Mielnikaŭ, 44, specializes in the modern military history of Belarus. He earned his doctoral degree from Belarusian State University in 2011.
A few weeks ago, Belarusian authorities branded three of his books extremist content.
Rights groups consider his persecution to be politically motivated.
Japanese man denounces Belarusian secret services’ “lies”
- Politics, SocietyExiled politician Sieviaryniec to head Belarusian Christian DemocracyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: over 400 convicted in Belarus for supporting Ukraine since 2022The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyEuropean diplomats commemorate Minsk ghetto victimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMongolia's president to visit Belarus (updated)The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLatvia records 13-day peak in irregular crossings via BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuania arrests six over cigarette smuggling from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyVacancies for foreigners in Belarus up 23 percent in two monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityDrone attack disrupts Russia-bound flights from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE body head ready to foster ties between Belarus’ opposition and UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNew apartment construction down 23 percent since 2021 in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka criticizes government over MAZ plant’s performanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Security, SocietyLithuania arrests another border guard in Belarus-linked smuggling caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia swap prisoners in Belarus in 11th exchange this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityKubrakoŭ reports surge in cyberattacks targeting interior ministry this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, PoliticsŁukašenka slams Belarusian manufacturer of Stadler trainsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMozambique president interested in boosting economic ties, Belarusian foreign ministry saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPoland seizes 21,000 packs of cigarettes smuggled using balloonsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsForty people removed from “terrorist” list since MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+



