Up to 15 years of prison. Five criminal trials against journalists scheduled for June

BelaPAN journalists’ trial starts on June 6

For­mer Bela­PAN deputy direc­tor Andrei Ali­ak­san­drau

Ali­ak­san­drau’ part­ner Iry­na Zlobi­na

For­mer Bela­PAN direc­tor Dzmit­ry Navazhy­lau

Agency direc­tor Iry­na Leushy­na

The case will be heard in cam­era by the Min­sk Region Court, how­ev­er, it is going to be an extra­mur­al ses­sion at the Min­sk Dis­trict Court build­ing. The charges are as fol­lows:

Andrei Ali­ak­san­drau:

Art. 342 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Orga­ni­za­tion and prepa­ra­tion of actions that gross­ly vio­late pub­lic order, or active par­tic­i­pa­tion in them – impris­on­ment for up to 3 years;

Art. 243 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Tax eva­sion – impris­on­ment for up to 7 years;

Art. 361–1 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Estab­lish­ment of or par­tic­i­pa­tion in an extrem­ist for­ma­tion – impris­on­ment for up to 7 years;

Art. 356 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Trea­son – impris­on­ment for up to 15 years.

Iry­na Zlobi­na

Art. 342 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Orga­ni­za­tion and prepa­ra­tion of actions that gross­ly vio­late pub­lic order, or active par­tic­i­pa­tion in them – impris­on­ment for up to 3 years;

Art. 356 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Trea­son – impris­on­ment for up to 15 years.

Dzmit­ry Navazhy­lau

Art. 243 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Tax eva­sion – impris­on­ment for up to 7 years;

Art. 361–1 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Estab­lish­ment of or par­tic­i­pa­tion in an extrem­ist for­ma­tion – impris­on­ment for up to 7 years.

Iry­na Leushy­na

Art. 361–1 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Estab­lish­ment of or par­tic­i­pa­tion in an extrem­ist for­ma­tion – impris­on­ment for up to 7 years.

The trial of the Novy Chas chief editor Aksana Kolb is to start on June 7

The hear­ing will take place at the Tsen­tral­ny Dis­trict Court of Min­sk at 10:30 a.m., presided by judge Dzmit­ry Kar­siuk. Aksana Kolb is charged with:

Part 1 Art. 342 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Orga­ni­za­tion and prepa­ra­tion of actions that gross­ly vio­late pub­lic order, or active par­tic­i­pa­tion in them – impris­on­ment for up to 3 years.

The trial of RFE/RL Belarus correspondent Andrei Kuznechyk will begin on June 8

The hear­ing will be held at the Mahil­iou Region Court in cam­era. Andrei Kuznechyk is charged under Part 1 Arti­cle 361–1 of the Crim­i­nal Code (Estab­lish­ment of or par­tic­i­pa­tion in an extrem­ist for­ma­tion).

Belaru­sian MIA rec­og­nized RFE/RL Belarus as an “extrem­ist for­ma­tion” a month after Andrei’s deten­tion on 23 Decem­ber 2021.

Journalists Iryna Slaunikava and Katsiaryna Andrejeva are expected to appear in court

Iry­na Slau­nika­va

Art. 342 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Orga­ni­za­tion and prepa­ra­tion of actions that gross­ly vio­late pub­lic order, or active par­tic­i­pa­tion in them – impris­on­ment for up to 3 years;

Part 1 Art. 361–1 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Estab­lish­ment of or par­tic­i­pa­tion in an extrem­ist for­ma­tion – impris­on­ment for up to 7 years.

Kat­siary­na Andreje­va (Bakhvala­va)

At the moment, the jour­nal­ist is serv­ing her 2‑year prison sen­tence for orga­ni­za­tion and prepa­ra­tion of actions that gross­ly vio­late pub­lic order, or active par­tic­i­pa­tion in them (Art. 342).

Recent­ly charged with Art. 356 of the Crim­i­nal Code – Trea­son – impris­on­ment for up to 15 years.

At the moment, 27 mass media work­ers stay behind bars.

All of them are rec­og­nized as polit­i­cal pris­on­ers. We demand their release!