Journalists Padabied, Łazaraŭ labeled as political prisoners

March 28, BPN. The Belarusian human rights community has labeled journalists Pavieł Padabied and Viačasłaŭ Łazaraŭ as political prisoners.

“The criminal prosecution of Pavieł Padabied and Viačasłaŭ Łazaraŭ is grounded on political motives aimed at stopping or changing the nature of their public activities […] in connection with the non-violent exercise of freedom of expression and information,” the human rights defenders’ joint statement reads.

They demand that the authorities immediately release the journalists and stop their criminal prosecution; stop using these methods as “an instrument of pressure on freedom of expression and other rights and freedoms”; stop the ongoing crackdown, and release all political prisoners.

The statement has been signed by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Viasna Human Rights Center, Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, and Lawtrend.

Pavieł Padabied, 43, was arrested in Minsk on January 20. His home was searched. He is charged with facilitating extremism. The charge is based on his 2012 social media posts linking to articles in the media that were declared “extremist” only 10 years later.

Viciebsk-based freelance cameraman Viačasłaŭ Łazaraŭ, arrested on February 9, is also accused of facilitating extremism.

On February 14, the Committee to Protect Journalists spoke out in his defense and demanded that the Belarusian authorities stop imprisoning media professionals for their work.

The BAJ says 37 media professionals are held in Belarusian prisons.

Belarusian human rights groups have identified a total of 1,467 political prisoners.