Rehijanalnaya Hazieta’s editor in chief declared political prisoner

April 6, BPN. Belarusian human rights groups have declared Alaksandr Mancevič, 64, editor in chief of Rehijanalnaja Hazieta, a political prisoner.

The joint statement describes his persecution as an ongoing attack on freedom of speech and “a continuation of the deliberate policy of the authorities to restrict distribution of uncensored information in the country.”

Human rights defenders urged authorities to release Mancevič immediately, stop criminal prosecution as an instrument of pressure on freedom of expression and release all political prisoners.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), the Viasna Human Rights Center, Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and Lawtrend signed the statement.

Authorities accuse Mancevič of discrediting Belarus. He has been in custody since March 15, when police raided 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.