Ksenia Lutskina (Ксенія Луцкіна), a Belarusian journalist, was released from prison following a presidential pardon issued by Aleksandr Lukashenka (Аляксандр Лукашэнка) on 16 August 2024. Lutskina was among a group of political prisoners suffering from severe health conditions, whose release was portrayed by the regime as an act of leniency.
During her imprisonment, Lutskina’s health deteriorated significantly. Despite her freedom, the circumstances surrounding her release highlight the ongoing repression in Belarus, where journalists, activists, and opposition figures continue to face persecution.
Lutskina had been sentenced to eight years in prison for her involvement in the Coordination Council, a group formed in response to the contested 2020 presidential elections in Belarus. After working at the Belarusian State Television and Radio Company for 15 years, Lutskina joined the national strike at the broadcaster and resigned. She then collaborated with former colleagues to launch an independent YouTube channel aimed at providing alternative news coverage. Her efforts to promote free and independent journalism led to her arrest in December 2020, where she was charged with conspiracy to seize power and later with large-scale tax evasion. She was charged according to the Art. 357 of the Criminal Code of Belarus.
Lutskina’s release came after her family petitioned for a pardon due to her deteriorating health. She expressed the emotional toll of writing the pardon request, describing it as the most challenging thing she had ever written. Upon her release, she expressed her joy at finally being able to reunite with her family, particularly her son. However, her health remains a concern.
On 3 July 2024 Belarusian freelance journalist Dzmitry Luksha (Дзмітрый Міхайлавіч Лукша ), born 1989, received a presidential pardon after serving 30 months of a four-year prison sentence. Also his wife Palina Palavinka (Паліна Палавінка), born 1989, received a presidential pardon. Luksha was arrested on 11 March 2022. Palavinka was arrested on 2 June 2022. On 2 December 2022, a Court in Minsk sentenced Dzmitry Luksha to four years in prison and a fine of 16,000 Belarusian rubles (about 5 825 EUR). Also on 2 December 2022 the Court sentenced Polina to two and a half years of prison
Dzmitry Luksha, Palina Palavinka, as well as Dzianis Yarouski and Kanstantsin Nikanorau were accused of «discrediting the Republic of Belarus» and «participating in mass protests». Dzmitry Luksha was found guilty under Article 369–1 of the Criminal Code and Article 342-1 of the Criminal Code. Palina Palavinka was charged under Article 16-6 and Article 369–1 of the Criminal Code and Article 342-1 of the Criminal Code
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) welcomes the release of journalist KseniaLutskina, who had been unjustly imprisoned in Belarus for her courageous work in defending press freedom. SEEMO also welcomes the presidential pardon of journalist Dzmitry Luksha, who had been unjustly imprisoned, and his wife Palina Palavinka, who had been unjustly imprisoned. SEEMO remains deeply concerned about the broader situation of media repression in Belarus. SEEMO calls on the Belarusian authorities to end the persecution of journalists and immediately release all remaining journalists and political prisoners. True justice will only be served when freedom of the press is fully restored.
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.
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