Rehijanalnaya Hazieta’s editor in chief accused of discrediting Belarus

April 3, BPN. Authorities accused Alaksandr Mancevič, 64, editor in chief of Rehijanalnaja Hazieta in Maƚadziečna, Minsk region, of discrediting Belarus and its authorities, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said, citing the Investigative Committee.

Authorities say Mancevič was “spreading deliberately false information in the newspaper and its online resources together with others, from January 1, 2020 to March 15, 2023.”

Rehijanalnaya Hazieta‘s articles allegedly contained inaccurate information aimed at causing damage to the state, harming the national interests and “forming false ideas about violations of civil rights and liberties in the country,” the case files say.

On March 15, police arrested Mancevič after a raid on his home in Vilejka, Minsk region. On the same day, police also raided the office of Infa Kurjer, another local newspaper based in the Minsk region.

Rehijanalnaja Hazieta was the leading independent newspaper based in the Minsk region’s Maładziečna, published from 1996 to 2021 and covering events in seven districts of the Minsk and Hrodna regions. Mancevič won several journalism contests and awards for his work.

In January, authorities blacklisted Rehijanalnaja Hazieta’s website and social media as extremist content.

At least 35 media workers are behind bars in Belarus, according to the BAJ.