Brest court hands 10-year sentence to freelance journalist
August 7, Pozirk. The Brest Regional Court sentenced 54-year-old freelance journalist Danił Palanski to 10 years after finding him guilty of high treason on July 25, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.
Palanski was tried behind closed doors, so the details of the case are unknown. The judge reportedly also ordered him to pay a fine of 21,000 rubels ($6,350).
Palanski was most likely arrested on September 19, 2024, after returning from Russia, the BAJ said. There has been no communication with him since that day.
According to the association, earlier that September, Palanski went to Russia to visit his relatives. His car was stopped by Federal Security Service officers, and then the the man was charged with “disobedience,” a misdemeanor, as he allegedly refused to present his documents.
Upon his return to Brest, Palanski was arrested by Committee for State Security (KGB) agents, the BAJ said, citing one of the journalist’s acquaintances.
“Initially, it was assumed that he was detained for committing an administrative offense. However, a few weeks later, it emerged that a criminal case was opened. The journalist awaited trial at the Brest pretrial detention center,” the association reported.
As a cameraman, Palanski cooperated with state and commercial television channels, as well as with independent regional websites. According to the BAJ, recently he was prominent as a volunteer with Angel, a nonprofit that searches for missing people.
Brother of jailed journalist Łosik rescued from Belarus
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja looking for ideas ahead of New Belarus ConferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus wood pellet industry in deep crisis following EU sanctions and failed evasion attempts, report saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyPole gets 30 months in prison for smuggling Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEnding Ukraine war hinges on several people, Łukašenka saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, SportUkraine urges 30 international federations to maintain restrictions on Belarusian athletesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHouse of Representatives approves ratification bill for agreement with Togo on visa-free travel for officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus to repair road at Bieniakoni checkpoint until July – border committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsLithuania's top diplomat pushes for EU sanctions on Łukašenka's regimeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, SocietyPoland cracks down on cigarette smuggling ring linked to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks expanded ties, visa facilitation with PhilippinesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk blames EU sanctions for irregular migration crisis since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: KGB intensifies raids on blacklisted university’s alumni and familiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka allocates $1.2 million for restoring Orthodox monastery, $94,000 landmark Catholic churchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka tells media newly appointed official to keep up propagandaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityAnalysis: irregular migration via Belarus eases significantly compared with 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyBelarusian transport ministry says its delegation held talks with ICAO in ItalyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyAI enables cancer surgery for patients who would have formerly been denied treatment, official saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+



