Belarus’ prosecutors file criminal charges against RFE/RL journalist Dubaviec

January 23, Pozirk. The Prosecutor General’s Office has filed six criminal charges against Siarhiej Dubaviec, a RFE/RL Belarus Service journalist.
Prosecutors accuse him of inciting hatred, setting up an extremist group, staging riots, “rehabilitating Nazism,” denying the genocide of the Belarusian people and defaming Alaksandar Łukašenka.
“In his blog, the suspect . . . spread deliberately false and openly destructive information about the political, economic, social, military and international situation of the Republic of Belarus, the legal status of its citizens, discrediting the Republic of Belarus, authorities and administration,” the office said.
Dubaviec, who lives in a European Union country, dismissed the charges as ridiculous. “My opinions should give rise to debate, not criminal cases,” he told Pozirk.
“The current government is not capable of holding discussions, it just gives orders and engages in repression,” he added.
The Investigative Committee is reportedly in charge of a preliminary investigation.
On December 23, 2021, the interior ministry blacklisted RFE/RL Belarus Service as an “extremist” group. RFE/RL journalist Aleh Hruzdiłovič was arrested on the same day and later given 18 months in prison on protest-related charges. Authorities released him in September 2022.
RFE/RL contributors Andrej Kuźniečyk and Ihar Łosik remain behind bars in Belarus, serving lengthy prison terms on charges widely seen as politically motivated.
Ihar Karniej, who had worked for RFE/RL in 2000-2021, is held in the pre-trial detention center as he waits for his trial.
At least 34 media workers are behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja welcomes new EU sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNew terrorist designations announcedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition urges Washington to appoint special envoy for BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka issues edict to detail wartime transport requisitioning proceduresThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityOpposition politician Łatuška welcomes EU sanctions as show of strengthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsTbilisi court rules to free Belarusian asylum seekerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands one Estonian, 31 Belarusians as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsFree Belarus Museum opens new exhibition on third anniversaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyGovernment to build new pulp and paper mill in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyKlaipėda terminal keeps up pressure on Lithuanian government to resume transit of Belarus’ fertilizersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: new wave of arrests targeting 2020 protestersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportBelarusian gymnasts to rejoin international competitionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełavija to open new China linkThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus and Laos sign visa exemption dealThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics