Former journalist Tołčyn sentenced to 2.5 years in prison – report

March 21, Pozirk. The Homiel Regional Court has pronounced a judgement in a criminal case against former journalist Andrej Tołčyn.
Judge Dźmitryj Kazłoŭ sentenced him to two years and six months in a penal colony, Radyjo Svaboda reported. He was found guilty of defaming the head of state and promoting extremism.
Tołčyn, the founder of the Homiel newspaper Homielskija Viedamaści, cooperated with several other media outlets and was arrested on multiple occasions while doing his journalistic work. He left the profession after the 2020 protests.
Tołčyn was arrested on September 27, 2023. Human rights groups declared him a political prisoner.
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, authorities are holding 34 members of the media behind bars.

Rights groups declare former reporter political prisoner
- PoliticsOpposition leader: reprisals extend beyond Belarus’ bordersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMissing activist’s wife alerts Polish prosecutorsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Belarusian Wikipedia activist imprisoned over protestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja to Kallas: lasting EU support essential for change in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, Sport
- PoliticsInterior ministry adds 14 names to extremist listThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyInternational platform documented testimonies of 2,700 victims of political persecution in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyParalympic Committee head Šepiel in custody since late JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsOpposition politician: Belarusian stand against takeover matches Europe’s security goalsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuania beefs up air defenses ahead of Zapad-2025 – generalThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SocietyBelarusian PEN awarded 2025 Hiroshima Peace PrizeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja: Denmark’s democratic leadership a model for BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: police target management of major ticketing serviceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian ambassador presents credentials to Venezuelan leaderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNearly half of Belarusians had disposable income below 1,000 rubelsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, SportBelarusian biathletes not to participate in 2026 Winter OlympicsThe material is available only to POZIRK+