Journalist given four years in prison on defamation charges
December 10, Pozirk. Judge Viera Hałaŭkova of the Minsk City Court has sentenced journalist Volha Radzivonava to four years in prison, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.
Authorities accused her of inciting hatred, insulting and defaming Alaksandar Łukašenka and discrediting the state.
The journalist was arrested in early March.
Her mother is over 80 years old and needs constant care.
Until 2020, Radzivonava worked for KYKY.org and cooperated with Belarusian and foreign media outlets as a freelancer. Rights groups declared her a political prisoner in late October.
Thirty-five media workers are held behind bars in Belarus, according to the BAJ.
BelaPAN editor released after serving full sentence
December 9, Pozirk. Iryna Leŭšyna, a former BelaPAN CEO and editor in chief, was released on December 7, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. She has served her sentence in full. Authorities arrested Leŭšyna and the previous CEO, Dźmitryj Navažyłaŭ, …