Journalist Iljaš transferred to pretrial detention center

October 30, Pozirk. Investigators have transferred journalist Ihar Iljaš to a pretrial detention center, and he is likely to face criminal charges, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported.

Iljaš, the husband of imprisoned journalist Kaciaryna Andrejeva, was arrested on October 21 over interviews for media labeled by the government extremist.

Security forces released a video of Iljaš saying that he had worked for Polish-based Belsat TV until July 2021, and later became a freelance reporter.

In July 2021, Iljaš had been arrested for 10 days for alleged violent disorder, but the charge was dropped.

His wife and her colleague Belsat TV journalist Daryja Čulcova were arrested in Minsk on November 15, 2020 while covering an opposition protest and sentenced to prison for alleged violent disorder.

Andrejeva was later charged with high treason and given eight years in prison.

The Belarusian government has equated journalism with extremism and prosecutes individuals for giving interviews to independent media outlets labeled “extremist” groups.

Those serving prison sentences in connection with interviews include historian Ihar Mielnikaŭ, academic Natalla Dulina and military expert Jahor Lebiadok.

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