Journalists’ federations call for Belarusian reporter to be freed

September 14, BPN. Both the International Federation of Journalists and the European Federation of Journalists have condemned the guilty verdict handed to Belarusian reporter Dzianis Ivašyn, demanding that he immediately be released.

In a joint statement, they described his trial as a “travesty of justice” and the court decision as “based on unfounded accusations.”

The Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Ivašyn to 13 years and 1 month in prison at a closed-door session on September 14. It also ordered him to pay hefty fines.

The reporter, declared a political prisoner by human rights activists, was prosecuted under criminal articles against meddling in police work and treason.

Ivašyn was a volunteer editor at Ukraine’s InfromNapalm. He also cooperated with Belarus’ independent weekly Novy Čas. He investigated Russian meddling in Belarus, construction at a Soviet-era massacre site, and the controversial recruitment of former Ukrainian riot police officers by Belarus.

He was arrested on March 12, 2021. Later that month, the Committee for the State Security (KGB) claimed that he worked for Ukraine’s special services and caused damage to Belarus’ national security.

The journalist went on trial on August 15, behind closed doors, as some details of his case supposedly amount to a state secret.

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, 28 media workers remain behind bars.