{"id":196562,"date":"2026-07-21T13:32:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/196562\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:08:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T13:08:51","slug":"rights-groups-declare-radyjo-racyjas-sound-engineer-as-political-prisoner","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/196562\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups declare Radyjo Racyja\u2019s sound engineer as political prisoner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Tra\u0161\u010dynski's social media)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 21, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Belarusian human rights organizations have designated sound engineer Juryj Tra\u0161\u010dynski as a political prisoner, says a joint statement posted by the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities persecuted him over collaboration with the Poland-based Radyjo Racyja<\/em> station, blacklisted as an \u201cextremist organization\u201d by the Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB) in 2024 along with dozens of other independent media outlets amid Minsk\u2019s crackdown on journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, a judge in Homiel sentenced Tra\u0161\u010dynski to two and a half years in prison on extremism-related charges and fined him 22,500 rubels (about $7,800). The sentence entered into force on July 7, after the Supreme Court had rejected his appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four days ago, the interior ministry also added Tra\u0161\u010dynski to the register of people it considers to be involved in \u201cextremist\u201d activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights defenders stressed that Belarusian authorities continue to use anti-extremism legislation to persecute political opponents, punish the lawful exercise of freedom of expression, restrict the dissemination of uncensored information and suppress civic and political activism and dissent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Lawtrend, Barys Zvozska\u016d Human Rights House, Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Human Constanta, the Office for Rights of People with Disabilities, Respect-Protect-Fulfill and Belarusian Helsinki Committee signed the declaration, demanding the immediate release of Tra\u0161\u010dynski.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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