Mourners pay respects to prominent journalist Miełkazioraŭ

December 30, Pozirk. Mikita Miełkazioraŭ’s star is already in the firmament of a free Belarus, opposition politician Pavieł Łatuška told Pozirk while paying respects to the prominent journalist in Warsaw on December 30.

“There are no simple things in life; the present day is very complicated and difficult,” he said. “Every day is a challenge when you have a clear conscience. … I can say for sure that Mikita was an engaged man, … a personality in global and human affairs.”

About a hundred mourners gathered near the ritual hall ahead of the farewell ceremony.

Miełkazioraŭ died on December 21 at the age of 37. The journalist had been living in Warsaw, where he moved fearing politically motivated persecution in Belarus after the crackdown on the 2020 postelection protests. His Zhizn-Malina YouTube channel, which had nearly 100,000 followers, featured interviews with prominent Belarusians. Minsk blacklisted the channel as extremist content.

Polish prosecutors are investigating the journalist’s death. Investigators say the death is believed to be nonviolent. Nevertheless, a case has been opened under the Criminal Code article on involuntary manslaughter, as required by law when the cause of death is unknown.