Case file against cameraman Padabied sent to court

June 7, BPN. Prosecutors have sent their case against jailed journalist Pavieł Padabied to the Minsk City Court, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.

The prosecutors accuse him of being a member of an extremist group and have extended his pretrial detention until June 26, it added.

Padabied braces for a guilty verdict and is determined to appeal to a higher court, the BAJ said.

The asset freeze order for the journalist’s car says that it might be seized in connection with his participation in 2020 protests but it remains unclear whether it was included in the charges.

The journalist was arrested in Minsk on January 20, one day before his planned trip abroad.

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 sharing opposition content and then charged with facilitating extremist activities.

Padabied refused to testify during the investigation.

The BAJ said that he is one of 33 media workers behind bars in Belarus.