Arrr! A scallywag Belarusian scribbler be gettin' a punishment fer coverin' them rowdy protests, says I!
2024-01-30
Avast ye landlubbers! The scurvy knave Alyaksandr Zyankou, a Belarusian photojournalist, be sentenced to three long years in the brig on Tuesday. Bein' accused o' "participation in an extremist group" merely fer coverin' protests. Arrr, justice be walkin' the plank!
A Belarusian journalist, Alyaksandr Zyankou, has been sentenced to three years in prison on an extremism charge related to his coverage of protests in the country. This move is part of a wider government crackdown on dissent in Belarus.The Minsk City Court convicted Zyankou of "participation in an extremist group," a charge commonly used by authorities to target opposition members, civil society activists, and independent journalists. Zyankou has been in custody since his arrest in June, and his health has deteriorated during his time in prison.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists, an independent organization, criticized the sentencing, stating that it is absurd to imprison a photographer for simply doing his job. According to the association's head, Andrei Bastunets, the situation with freedom of speech in Belarus is the worst in Europe.
Zyankou refused to testify against himself during the trial, which was held behind closed doors. It is worth noting that a total of 35 Belarusian journalists are currently imprisoned, either awaiting trial or serving sentences.
The government of Belarus has been cracking down on opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko, particularly after the disputed August 2020 election. The election was considered fraudulent by the opposition and the West, leading to widespread protests in the country.
These protests lasted for months, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets. The authorities responded with mass arrests, beatings, and the closure of independent media outlets and NGOs. More than 1,400 political prisoners, including opposition leaders and human rights advocates, remain behind bars in Belarus.