Minsk court rejects journalist’s appeal against detention

April 6, BPN. A district court in Minsk ruled that journalist Pavieł Padabied should remain in custody, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said.

Judge Alaksandr Supičenka rejected his appeal against detention at a closed-door hearing on April 5.

BAJ said the 43-year-old photographer and cameraman was arrested in Minsk on January 20, one day before his planned trip abroad.

He was charged over his 2012 social media posts linking to media that were declared “extremist” 10 years later.

After his arrest, pro-government media published a picture of Padabied’s press card from the days when he worked at the now-defunct BelaPAN media company.

He was first sentenced to 15 days in jail for disseminating “extremist” content and then charged with facilitating “extremist” activities.

The journalist refused to cooperate with investigators.

Human rights defenders declared him a political prisoner.