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.
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja condemns Russia’s drone attack on Chernobyl reactor shieldThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyPro-government sociologists: more than 70 percent trust law enforcersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsEcuador's president congratulates Łukašenka on seventh term in officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Belarusians’ online activities in focusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets with US diplomat who took prisoners out of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to build 4.5 million sq. m of housing this year, more than in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMore than 27,000 genetic passports issued in Belarus – scientistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityBelarusian drill draws on the experience of war in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityCIS draft anti-terrorist program sent for revisionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportInvestigators launch probe against dissident athlete's ex-husbandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyAliyev optimistic about Azerbaijan-Belarus relationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyMedical tourism up 20 percent in 2024 – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFlying object shot down over Homiel as Russia attacked Ukraine last night – reportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCoE local body to appoint a special rapporteur on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus, Cuba set to expand trade in goods by 2030The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsRFE/RL hopes for release of journalist ŁosikThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s adviser rejects speculations of US lawyer’s releaseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPundit: Belarusian propaganda diverts attention from inmate releaseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuania has intercepted 82 balloons with Belarusian contraband cigarettes since year's startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBelarus ranks third in EEU by gasoline, diesel fuel prices in Q4The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SocietyBulgarian buyer of Belarusian trolleybuses suspected of fraudThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBySol warns of impersonation by law enforcers after Biełaruski Hajun leakThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOver 1,000 extremist content requests sent by Minsk region prosecutors since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityTop security official, border chief discuss Ukraine sector build-upThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyDirect flights to Moscow top recent Biełavija saleThe material is available only to POZIRK+