February 21, Pozirk. Diplomats from the EU gathered outside the Minsk City Court today in a show of solidarity with journalist Ihar Iljaš currently on trial on charges of supporting extremism and discrediting Belarus.
“Today we came to support Ihar Iljaš. He is being tried for his remarks about the politically-motivated arrest of his wife Kaciaryna Bachvałava and Belarus’ participation in Russia’s illegal war of conquest against Ukraine. The right to freedom of speech and expression must be respected,” the German embassy stated.
Diplomats from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom took part in the gathering.
Judge Siarhiej Kacar, notorious for verdicts in politically-motivated cases, presides over the proceedings that are open to the public.
Iljaš was arrested in late October 2024 over interviews for media labeled by the government as extremist. Pro-government Telegram channels claimed he collected information for foreign intelligence services, citing his comments to Ukrainian media outlets.
His wife, journalist Kaciaryna Andrejeva, has been held behind bars since November 2020, after being arrested while covering an opposition protest. Andrejeva was later charged with high treason and given eight years in prison.
Rights groups consider the persecution of Andrejeva and Iljaš to be politically motivated.
