Imprisoned reporter sees mother for the first time in 15 months

April 2, Pozirk. Journalist Dzianis Ivašyn was allowed a four-hour visit by his mother for the first time since December 2022, his wife Volha said on Facebook.

He looked thin but did not complain of any health issues and was in an optimistic mood, she added, citing her husband’s mother.

In September 2022, Ivašyn was given 13 years and one month in prison on charges of high treason and illegal handling of personal data. He is held at Prison No 8 in Žodzina, Minsk region. Rights groups consider him a political prisoner.

Ivašyn was a volunteer editor at Ukraine’s InfromNapalm and cooperated with Belarus’ independent weekly Novy Čas.

He investigated Russian meddling in Belarus, construction at a Soviet-era massacre site, and the controversial recruitment of former Ukrainian riot police officers by Belarus.

Following the journalist’s arrest in March 2021, the Committee for State Security accused him of spying for Ukraine and causing damage to Belarus’ national security.

At least 34 media workers are behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

Also read: Dozens of Belarusians persecuted on high treason charges – rights group