Veteran reporter freed, leaves Belarus

September 21, BPN. Mahiloŭ’s Corrective Colony No 15 has freed reporter Aleh Hruździłovič.

Radyjo Svaboda said on Telegram that he had spent almost nine months behind bars and left Belarus.

Hruździłovič said he was pardoned despite insisting that he was not guilty.

Law enforcers arrested Hruździłovič on December 23, 2021. A court in Minsk sentenced him to 18 months for participation in protests. He told the court that had covered them as a reporter with the Narodnaya Volya newspaper.

In addition, the Minsktrans public transport operator claimed 56,000 rubels (some $22,000) in damages from the reporter for allegedly blocking traffic. Courts have not considered the claim so far.

Human rights groups said Hruździłovič, primarily known for his work at the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was persecuted for political reasons.