Journalist Ziankoŭ has his appeal rejected by Supreme Court

April 16, Pozirk. The Supreme Court has thrown out an appeal by photojournalist Alaksandar Ziankoŭ against his three-year sentence, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.

Judge Žanna Brysina of the Minsk City Court in late January found him guilty of association with an extremist group, a charge widely used by authorities to punish journalists for their past work for media outlets declared extremist in the wake of the 2020 postelection protests.

Ziankoŭ was arrested on June 22 as police raided his home in Barysaŭ.

On December 23, Belarusian human rights groups declared Ziankoŭ a political prisoner.

Investigators reportedly found footage in his computer that was allegedly used by a media outlet deemed extremist, according to the source. The journalist rejected services of a lawyer provided by the state.

Ziankoŭ worked for private media, including ex-press.by, whose content was declared extremist in October 2021.

Also read: Photographer Ziankoŭ sentenced to three years in prison