Hrodna-based news site owner feared to be serving another jail term

November 6, Pozirk. Siarhiej Čaboćka, owner of the local news website s13.ru in Hrodna banned on October 30 as extremist content, might have been sentenced to another jail term.

His trial was scheduled to take place at Hrodna’s Leninski District Court on November 6, but the sentence is unknown, said the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast human rights Telegram channel.

He was charged with unauthorized picketing, an accusation usually used by police to punish people for displaying opposition or pro-Ukrainian symbols in their social media. The charge carries a jail term of up to 15 days.  

Čaboćka was jailed for 15 days on October 25 for allegedly distributing extremist content. His website, which covered city news but stayed away from politics, is inaccessible. The s13.ru X account was last updated on October 23.

Belarusian authorities hold at least 43 journalists in prison, according to Reporters Without Borders Barometer.

Also read: Journalist Iljaš arrested for interviews