Supreme Court throws out journalist Lubiančuk’s appeal

January 27, BPN. The Supreme Court rejected journalist Alaksandr Lubiančuk’s appeal against sentence on January 24, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.

In November, Lubiančuk was transferred from Minsk to detention facilities in Žodzina and Mahiloŭ and, according to the BAJ, will soon be placed in Mahiloŭ’s Penal Colony No 15.

Lubiančuk was arrested on May 26, 2022 in the village of Kryvičy near Iŭje, where he was engaged in restoration of his region’s historical and cultural heritage.

On October 27, the Minsk City Court sentenced him to three years’ in prison. Judge Alena Ananič convicted him of membership in an extremist group.

From Lubiančuk’s letters, activists learned that his health deteriorated significantly in detention.

At least 32 journalists remain behind bars, the BAJ said.