Local journalist sentenced in jail on “extremist” content charges
December 26, BPN. The Słonim District Court, Hrodna region, has sentenced local journalist, writer and historian Siarhiej Čyhryn to 15 days in jail, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reports.
The 64-year-old man was expected to be released on December 23 after serving a seven-day term for dissemination of “extremist” content. Instead, law enforcers told Čyhryn’s relatives about “new developments” in his case.
After another weekend in jail, the journalist was convicted under the same criminal article, but received a longer term.
Čyhryn was sacked as head of the Słonim Drama Theater’s literary department three days after his arrest.
In the past, the convict was reporter at the Słonimski Vieśnik newspaper and deputy editor-in-chief at Hazieta Słonimskaja. He wrote about 60 poetry, local history and literary studies books. He also translated works by Ukrainian, Russian, French and Turkish poets and playwrights into Belarusian.
Belarus has at least 33 imprisoned reporters, BAJ said.
- PoliticsŁukasenka wishes Nazarbayev a happy birthdayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church plans to open mission in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCouncil of Europe affirms support for Belarusians at home and abroadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusians proud of common heritage with Lithuania, grateful for support – CichanoŭskajaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian foreign minister to attend BRICS summit in BrazilThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoordination Council supports setting up tribunal on aggression against UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsViasna releases update on reprisals in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed lawyer asks Lithuanian president to swap him for Belarus’ prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPro-government MP calls on emigrants to assault opposition politiciansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMigration crisis tested Poland’s defense capability – DudaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkraine, Russia hold new prisoner swap in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOSCE group: Belarus must end crackdown on opponentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUN expert urges Minsk to speed up release of jailed dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus', Russia's PMs discuss integration in phone callThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsEU court upholds sanctions on Belarusian chemical plantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings surge 62 percent in January-June from H2 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja's aide discusses political prisoners at UN human rights officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyReprisals: 26 persecuted in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+