Supreme Court rejects Belsat editor’s appeal

July 1, Pozirk. Two days ago, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Anastasija Maciaš against her two-year prison sentence for collaboration with the Warsaw-based Belsat TV channel deemed “extremist” in Belarus, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.

The woman reportedly provided linguistic consultations, translated, proofread and edited texts for Belsat TV, affiliated with TVP, a major Polish public broadcaster.

In mid-April, judge Śviatłana Makarevič convicted Maciaš of association with an extremist group and fined her 20,000 rubels (about $6,320), ordering her to compensate 102,000 rubels ($32,200) in income allegedly earned “by criminal means.”

Maciaš pleaded not guilty.

At least 36 media workers are behind bars in Belarus, according to the BAJ.

Also read: Belsat proofer given two years in prison