In a case of Belarus crackdown on independent journalism, video-journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich (Яўген Нікалаевіч), born 1996, has been sentenced to 1.5 years in penal colony. The conviction, handed down by the court in Pinsk (Пінск), Belarus, on 2 October 2024 accused Nikalayevich of participating in mass demonstrations under Article 342, Part 1 of the Belarusian Criminal Code. His appeal to the Brest (Брэст), Belarus, Regional Court was rejected on 3 December 2024 solidifying the sentence. On 6 December 2024 his name was published on the list of “extremist” citizens by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus (Міністэрства ўнутраных спраў Рэспублікі Беларусь).
Nikalayevich’s troubles began in August 2020, when he worked for Media-Polesye (https://media-polesye.com/), an regional news outlet, was covering protests in Pinsk connected to the presidential elections. While reporting, he was detained on 10 August 2024 and allegedly, according to some soureces, beaten in custody. Media-Polesye was initially unable to determine his whereabouts until he was located in a temporary detention facility and later transferred to a correctional facility in Ivatsevichy (Івацэвічы), Belarus.
You can read Media-Polesye article: https://media-polesye.com/news/stal-izvesten-prigovor-zhurnalistu-media-polesye-evgeniyu-nikolaevichu/
In November 2020, Nikalayevich faced further legal troubles when he was summoned to explain allegations of disrespect toward a local judge. Although those accusations were later dismissed, he was detained again to serve a previously imposed administrative arrest. Following this, he left Belarus and pursued a non-journalism career abroad.
After returning to Belarus in early 2024, Nikalayevich was detained once again. Although the exact date of his arrest is unclear, his trial commenced on 26 September 2024 and the guilty verdict was announced shortly after. The Ministry of Internal Affairs added him to its list of individuals involved in “extremist activities” on 6 December 2024 marking him as an alleged threat.
The targeting of Nikalayevich underscores the dangers faced by journalists operating in authoritarian regimes like Belarus. Despite his absence from journalism after fleeing Belarus in 2020, his decision to return home resulted in harsh punishment.
This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of protecting press freedom and holding regimes accountable for human rights abuses.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of Belarusian journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich, whose imprisonment is yet another example of the systematic targeting of independent journalists in Belarus. Criminalizing a journalist for carrying out their professional duties documenting public protests is a clear violation of press freedom and international human rights standards. SEEMO urges Belarusian authorities to release Nikalayevich immediately and cease the persecution of media professionals. SEEMO will closely monitor this case and continue to advocate for the protection of journalists and freedom of expression in Belarus.
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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