Journalist Padabied sentenced to prison for “extremism”

June 30, BPN. A judge in Minsk has sentenced cameraman Pavieł Padabied to four years in prison, fidning him guilty of extremism for cooperation with the Polish-based television channel Belsat TV, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).

Investigators also accused him of involvement in the production of reports about kidnapped cameraman Źmicier Zavadski and murdered journalist Pavieł Šaramiet.

According to prosecutors, he had an account in a foreign bank – evidence of his “selfish motives” and “financial benefits.”

The journalist dismissed the charges as far-fetched.

Padabied has cooperated with independent media as a photographer and cameraman for more than 20 years.

Law enforcers arrested him in January, one day before his scheduled trip abroad.

According to the BAJ, the police tapped his phone and had access to his correspondence on messengers.