Journalist Hardzijevič sentenced to jail on extremism charge

January 29, Pozirk. The Drahičyn District Court, Brest region, has sentenced journalist Siarhiej Hardzijevič to 15 days in jail.

The case was considered today by Judge Julija Kuksa, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported.

The man was convicted of spreading extremism for sharing November’s article from the “extremist” media outlet Hancavicki Čas, the BAJ said.

The court disregarded the fact that his health “significantly deteriorated. He lost consciousness and had to consult doctors several times,” it said.

Security forces arrested the former correspondent for the Pieršy Rehijon news website (Drahičyn) on January 24.

Last year, authorities arrested Hardzijevič after checking his phone at a border crossing and sentenced him to 15 days in jail on the same charge.

In October 2022, the journalist was released from prison after serving an 18-month sentence for allegedly insulting an official and the head of state, as well as defamation. Human rights groups denounced the charges as politically motivated, but the interior ministry added him to the list of “extremists.”

Pieršy Rehijon has been designated as “extremist content” but is still updated by journalists based abroad.

According to the BAJ, 35 media workers are behind bars.