Belarus convicts a journalist and sentences him to 3.5 years in prison
Authorities also fined Kiryl Pazniak about $8,500 after convicting him on charges widely used against critical voices, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
- On Thursday, a Belarusian court sentenced journalist Kiryl Pazniak to 3.5 years in prison for discrediting the state and forming an extremist organization, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported. He was also ordered to pay $8,500.
- Authorities arrested Pazniak in September 2025 as part of a broader state crackdown on critical voices. Human rights defenders subsequently designated him a political prisoner, underscoring the systematic targeting of independent journalists.
- Behind bars, Pazniak suffered from pneumonia and COVID-19, with his ex-wife Elena reporting he was placed in a prison hospital in serious condition. Andrei Bastunets, leader of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, said Pazniak 'nearly died behind bars.'
- This case exemplifies persistent repression in Belarus, where Viasna reports 21 journalists remain behind bars among 863 total political prisoners. The conviction signals authorities continue using extremism and discrediting charges to suppress independent media.
- Despite American-brokered prisoner releases following President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January 2025, Alexander Lukashenko continues prosecuting journalists and independent voices. Pazniak's conviction demonstrates the regime maintains repression as a core tool despite diplomatic engagement.
17 Articles
17 Articles
The independent Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) announced the journalist's sentence on Thursday. According to the organization, Paźniak's prison sentence is another manifestation of the Belarusian authorities' crackdown on freedom of speech, and the charges against him are widely used to suppress anti-government criticism. Paźniak was also sentenced to a fine equivalent to approximately $8,500. The journalist was arrested in Septembe…
A Belarus court sentenced journalist and YouTube host Kiryl Pazniak to 3.5 years in jail on charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist group (Yuras Karmanau/Associated Press)
Yuras Karmanau / Associated Press: A Belarus court sentenced journalist and YouTube host Kiryl Pazniak to 3.5 years in jail on charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist group — A court in Belarus has convicted a journalist and sentenced him to 3 1/2 years in prison in the latest step against free speech in the country …
A court in Belarus has sentenced a journalist to 3.5 years in prison for organizing debates with opposition politicians on his YouTube channel.
A court in Belarus has sentenced journalist Kiryl Paznyak to 3.5 years in prison for discrediting the country and creating an extremist organization. The AP reported today, saying it was another attempt by the regime of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to suppress freedom of expression. Paznyak had been in conflict with the authorities over his YouTube show, where he organized debates between regime officials and exiled opposition fi…
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