October 22, Pozirk. Police have arrested journalist Ihar Iljaš, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports, citing pro-government sources.
His wife, Kaciaryna Andrejeva (Bachvałava) who collaborated with the outlawed Warsaw-based Belsat TV channel, is serving an eight-year prison term after authorities found her guilty of high treason in a case widely seen as politically motivated.
A Telegram channel associated with the law enforcers hinted that the arrest might be linked to Iljaš’s Belsat connections, threatening to persecute those who share details of his case with independent media outlets.
Founded in 2007 in a deal between the Polish foreign ministry and the Polish broadcaster TVP, Belsat broadcasts for Belarusian audiences.
Authorities in Minsk blacklisted it in November 2021 along with other independent media outlets.
At least 17 media workers are serving prison sentences in Belarus for cooperating with Belsat.
Also read: Lengthy prison term for journalist indicative of intensifying political terror, husband says
