PR man on trial for “funding extremism, abusing power”

August 29, BPN. The A1 telecommunications company’s public relations head Mikałaj Bredzieleŭ went on trial in the Minsk City Court on August 29, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

The 35-year-old man is charged with financing extremist activities and abusing power.

Bredzieleŭ was arrested on December 10, 2021. Pro-government Telegram channels posted a video of him “confessing” to leaking insider information to well-known blogger Anton Matolka. The blogger left the country in July 2020 for fear of persecution, and was included in Belarus’ list of persons involved in terrorist activities.

Bredzieleŭ was also forced to come out as gay and reveal his salary. Pro-government Telegram channels published his private photos. A1’s Austrian management and the Austrian Embassy in Belarus condemned the disclosure of information about his private life.

In December 2021, Alaksandr Łukašenka used the Bredzieleŭ case to emphasize the need for caution during recruitment, since the “most important goal” of supporters of change, in his opinion, is to “penetrate the state apparatus.”

“We are still identifying these bastards with the police, the KGB, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Committee. Recently, the press secretary of A1 was arrested. He was their central figure. He took the data and leaked it all,” he said.

Human rights groups say Bredzieleŭ’s persecution is politically motivated.