Former state TV anchor gets four years in prison

December 2, BPN. The Minsk City Court has announced a guilty verdict in a case against Dźmitryj Łukša, a former anchor at the Belarus 1 TV channel, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

It sentenced Łukša to four years in prison and a fine of 16,000 rubels (about $6,575); his wife Palina Pałavinka, to two and a half years; and Dzianis Jaroŭski to 18 months in prison for allegedly discrediting Belarus and participating in protests. Pałavinka and Jaroŭski were ordered to pay a fine of 3,200 rubels ($1,315) each.

Another defendant in the case, Anastasia Jaroŭskaja is currently on the wanted list. She did not show up.

Judge Natalla Buhuk also sentenced cameraman Kanstancin Nikanoraŭ to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement and a fine of 3,200 rubels.

Nikanoraŭ collaborated with Łukša on assignments for Kazakhstan’s Khabar 24 TV channel, while connections of the other two defendants, Anastasija Jaroŭskaja and Dzianis Jaroŭski, to Łukša are unknown.

The Prosecutor General’s Office accused the journalist and cameraman of selling reports containing false claims about Belarus to a foreign TV channel.

At least 32 Belarusian media workers are behind bars, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).