{"id":127298,"date":"2025-02-21T19:47:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T16:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/127298\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"eu-uk-diplomats-show-solidarity-with-belarusian-journalist-being-tried-for-giving-interviews","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/127298\/","title":{"rendered":"EU, UK diplomats show solidarity with Belarusian journalist being tried for giving interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (German embassy in Minsk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

February 21, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Diplomats from the EU gathered outside the Minsk City Court today in a show of solidarity with journalist Ihar Ilja\u0161 currently on trial on charges of supporting extremism and discrediting Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday we came to support Ihar Ilja\u0161. He is being tried for his remarks about the politically-motivated arrest of his wife Kaciaryna Bachva\u0142ava and Belarus\u2019 participation in Russia\u2019s illegal war of conquest against Ukraine. The right to freedom of speech and expression must be respected,\u201d the German embassy stated<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomats from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom took part in the gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge Siarhiej Kacar, notorious for verdicts in politically-motivated cases, presides over the proceedings that are open to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilja\u0161 was arrested in late October 2024 over interviews for media labeled by the government as extremist. Pro-government Telegram channels claimed he collected information for foreign intelligence services, citing his comments to Ukrainian media outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His wife, journalist Kaciaryna Andrejeva, has been held behind bars since November 2020, after being arrested while covering an opposition protest. Andrejeva was later charged with high treason and given eight years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups consider the persecution of Andrejeva and Ilja\u0161 to be politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Journalist Ilja\u0161 on trial in Minsk<\/h3>\n
February 21, Pozirk. The trial of journalist Ihar Ilja\u0161 is scheduled to open today at the Minsk City Court. Judge Siarhiej Kacar, notorious for verdicts in politically-motivated cases, will preside over the proceedings that are open to the public. Charges …<\/div>\n \n