Prominent photojournalist Ziankoŭ on trial in Minsk

January 12, Pozirk. Journalist and cameraman Alaksandar Ziankoŭ went on trial at the Minsk City Court today to answer extremism charges, according to the court’s electronic schedule.

Investigators accused him of association with an extremist group, a charge that carries up to six years in prison.

The journalist’s arrest was not reported earlier. He disappeared from Facebook in June after posting nature pictures almost every day.

A source confirmed his arrest to Pozirk on the condition of anonymity for fear of persecution.

Based in Barysaŭ, Minsk region, Ziankoŭ cooperated with several independent media outlets, including ex-Press.by (now ex-press.live), blacklisted as extremist content twice, while its team was branded an extremist group in November.

In 2011 and 2019, the journalist was arrested while doing his job.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists list of imprisoned media workers has 32 names but does not mention Ziankoŭ.