March 4, Pozirk. The Minsk City Court has sentenced famous folk musician Alieh Chamienka to three years in prison in connection with his work as a show host for the Belarusian-language radio station Radyjo Racyja, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported.
The singer and show presenter was found guilty of facilitating extremism because the station had been labeled by Belarus’ security services as an extremist group among dozens of other blacklisted media organizations.
Chamienka was also ordered to pay a fine of more than 20,000 rubels.
He was arrested in Minsk on June 17, 2025 and put on trial on February 19. Human rights defenders declared him a political prisoner.
The Pałac folk band leader, Chamenka also worked as a lecturer at the Belarusian University of Culture and Arts, hosted shows on several radio stations and acted as a presenter at major festivals.
