Journalist couple sentenced to restricted freedom

January 13, BPN. Authorities have sentenced journalists Sniažana Inaniec and her husband Alaksandr Łyčaŭka to restricted freedom in home confinement, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.

This type of sentence implies that people are confined to their residence during non-working hours and are required to retain or seek employment. Police can visit their home or place of employment anytime to make sure they comply with the terms of confinement.

A court punished Inaniec with two and a half years and Łyčaŭka, with three years, exactly as requested by prosecutors who charged the couple with participating in protests.

Both were released from custody after the verdict was pronounced.

Police arrested the couple in early October 2022. Pro-government Telegram channels posted a video where they admitted to subscribing to opposition channels and participating in 2020 protests.

Łyčaŭka collaborated with The Village and wrote about local history. Inaniec has been working at onliner.by. Earlier, she collaborated with tut.by, Belarus’ largest online media outlet crushed by the authorities.

Thirty-two media workers remain behind bars in Belarus, BAJ said.