Exiled Biełaruski Hajun founder given 20 years in prison

June 3, Pozirk. A judge in Hrodna has sentenced Anton Matolka, founder of the now defunct defense monitoring project Biełaruski Hajun, to 20 years in prison on extremism-related charges without him being present at the trial, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of 84,000 rubels (some $28,000).
Prosecutors accused Matolka of plotting to seize state power by unconstitutional means since late 2020 for running several opposition Telegram channels. Charges against him also included high treason, violent disorder, inciting hatred, calling for sanctions, discrediting the state and publicly insulting Alaksandar Łukašenka among others.
Established in early 2022, Biełaruski Hajun documented military activities of Russian troops in Belarus and helped the Ukrainians assess threats after Russia launched a full-scale war on their country in February 2022. It was forced to shut down earlier this year following a massive data breach.
People who shared information with the group faced politically-motivated persecution in Belarus and many had to flee abroad fearing reprisals.

BySol reports soaring evacuation requests after opposition chat data breach
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja discusses political prisoners with French foreign ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarusian police accused of torturing former Afghan officerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsPoczobut held in penal colony’s isolation wing amid health declineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityUkraine to try Volyn resident for sharing info with Belarus’ secret serviceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja: Belarus gains unprecedented attention in French foreign policyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSenators approve Belarusian-Russian deal against prosecution abroadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka, Putin discuss regional situationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Security
- Economy
- SocietyHome tattoo turns fatal for Maładziečna womanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in January-SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuania scaling back security for Cichanoŭskaja – reportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityOfficials holding four-day mobilization drill across BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Wargaming co-founder given lengthy prison term in absentiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityPoland, Latvia see sharp rise in illegal entries compared with early October 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus, Oman sign memorandum on pulp and cardboard millThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEU delegation calls for all regime prisoners to be freedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarus, Oman sign visa waiver agreementThe material is available only to POZIRK+