Serbia frees filmmaker Hniot after 13-month legal battle against extradition

November 1, Pozirk. After a 13-month legal battle Serbia has released Andrej Hniot, a Belarusian filmmaker and opposition activist who narrowly escaped extradition sought by his country’s authoritarian government.

Lawyer Hanna Macijeŭskaja posted Hniot’s photo on Facebook yesterday and commented: “Finally! God, how glad I am that Andrej is free! We’ve been living for this moment for the last six months, with all the stress, late night conversations, a/b/c plans, etc.! I’m crying tears of joy.”

Radyjo Svaboda, the RFE/RL‘s Belarusian service, quoted Macijeŭskaja as saying that Hniot was “evacuated to the European Union” yesterday after his house arrest ended.

Opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja welcomed his release.

Also read: Serbian appellate court sends Belarusian filmmaker’s case for review