BelaPAN’s jailed journalists transferred to prisons – updated

January 27, BPN. Authorities transferred convicted BelaPAN journalists to prisons where they are to serve their sentences.

Media manager and former deputy CEO Andrej Alaksandraŭ, sentenced to 14 years in prison, was sent to Penal Colony No 1 in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, sources told BPN. Former presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka and blogger Ihar Łosik are held there too.

Alaksandraŭ turned 45 on January 27 and is celebrating his birthday in captivity for the third time. He was born in Russia’s Nizhny Tagil but grew up in Navapołack.

Former BelaPAN CEO Dźmitryj Navažyłaŭ, sentenced to six years in prison, was escorted to Prison No 3 in Vićba, Viciebsk district, even though earlier reports said authorities also planned to send him to Navapołack. Babaryka’s lawyer Maksim Znak and journalist Juryj Hancarevič are held there too.

Iryna Złobina, Alaksandraŭ’s wife sentenced to nine years in prison, is held at women’s Penal Colony No 4 in Homiel. 

It still remains unclear where authorities have transferred BelaPAN editor in chief Iryna Leŭšyna, sentenced to four years in prison, but most likely she is also in Homiel. 

Both women were sent to Homiel’s pre-trial detention facility from Minsk after their conviction in October 2022. They remained there until the appeal hearing on January 6, when the Supreme Court upheld the long prison sentences.

Authorities accused journalists of establishing an extremist group (Alaksandraŭ, Leŭšyna, Navažyłaŭ), treason (Alaksandraŭ, Złobina), tax evasion (Alaksandraŭ, Navažyłaŭ), and organization of actions grossly disturbing public order (Alaksandraŭ and Złobina).

Human rights groups consider all four political prisoners.