Radio Svaboda journalist Alieh Hruzdzilovič accused of participating in an unauthorized rally

December 28. Alieh Hruzdzilovič, a political prisoner and Radio Svaboda journalist, was charged with participating in an unauthorized rally, Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

He is accused of taking part in the rally after he was stripped of his accreditation by the Foreign Ministry as a foreign media representative.

According to Radio Svaboda, Hruzdzilovič insists that in that moment he was working as a freelancer with Narodnaja Volja newspaper performing his professional duties at the rally.

Hruzdzilovič was detained on December 23 in his own apartment.

On July 16, the Minsk office and the homes of Radio Svaboda employees were searched. Journalists Alieh Hruzdzilovič and Inesa Studzinskaja were detained. They were released 10 days later. Both are suspects in a criminal case under Art. 342 (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order).

On December 23, it became known that a criminal case was opened against the Radio Svaboda freelancer Andrej Kuznečyk, yet the charges remain unclear.

On the same day, the Belarusian service of Radio Svaboda was recognized as an extremist formation by the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It includes “a group of citizens associated via Radio Svaboda’s website, the Telegram channel “Radio Svaboda – Belarus”, the Youtube channel “Radio Svaboda” and other Internet resources.”

On December 3, the Central District Court in Minsk recognized the social media content along with the Telegram channel “Radio Svaboda” as extremist. This happened on the following day after the United States expanded sanctions against Belarusian legal entities and individuals.

To date, 32 Belarusian journalists remain in prison.