On 30 May 2023, a court in Homel / Gomel (Гомель) rendered its verdict against Yauhen Merkis (Яўген Меркіс), a journalist, local history expert and tourist guide, sentencing him to four years of imprisonment. The trial was conducted in closed sessions. He was named guilty for “assistance to an extremist activity” and for the “participation in extremist formation,” as specified in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Working as journalists he covered the protests after the presidential election in 2020.
Merkis was detained on 13 September 2022, and subsequent searches were conducted at his living-place, as well as the home of his father and some friends.
Several independent media outlets that published his story were named “extremist” by the authorities.
#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech#southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo#journalist #journalistunderattack #journalistarrest #belarus #homel #minsk #YauhenMerkis #journalistinjail #imprisionedjournalist #journalistinprison #SEEMO #pressfreedom#mediafreedom #freemedia