Belarusian journalist loses extremism conviction appeal

December 6, BPN. The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Belarusian journalist Iryna Słaŭnikava and upheld her sentence of five years in prison, Belsat reports.

The Homiel Regional Court sentenced Słaŭnikava, who worked at Polish television channel TVP, to five years in prison on August 3. Judge Mikałaj Dola found her guilty of active participation in group actions grossly disturbing public order and disrupting traffic contrary to police orders. Dola also convicted her of leading an extremist formation.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki criticized the sentence, threatening retaliation “at the international level.” Human rights groups said her persecution was politically motivated. Belarus has at least 32 imprisoned journalists, says the Belarusian Association of Journalists, an independent NGO.