Journalist Mikałajevič released after serving 18 months in prison over protests

October 14, Pozirk. Jaŭhien Mikałajevič, a Media Polesyie cameraman who was arrested and beaten by police while covering 2020 postelection protests in Pinsk, was released a few days ago after serving an 18-month prison term on protest-related charges, Media Polesyie reported.

He was convicted of violent disorder last year and had his appeal rejected on December 3. 

Five years ago, he was beaten by police while covering postelection protests in Pinsk, Brest region, and was arrested several times.

Mikałajevič left Belarus in late 2020 after serving a jail term for an alleged minor offense but returned last year and was arrested again. Rights groups denounced his persecution as politically motivated.

The journalist was designated as extremist and is banned from any education- and media-related activity for five years.

At least 30 media workers are held behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

Nineteen, including journalist Mikałajevič, designated as extremists