CPJ demands immediate release of journalist sentenced on high treason charges
March 10, Pozirk. The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the March 6 sentencing of journalist Paviał Dabravolski to nine years in jail on treason charges, and calls on Belarusian authorities to release him immediately.
“The harsh prison sentence handed down to journalist Pavel Dabravolski, the latest in a recent series of convictions of journalists in retaliation for independent reporting, shows that the media crackdown continues unabated in Belarus,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Authorities should immediately release Dabravolski, along with all imprisoned journalists.”
At least 26 journalists are currently behind bars in Belarus, according to the CPJ. At least six of them — Dabravolski, Dzianis Ivašyn, Kaciaryna Andrejeva, Andrej Alaksandraŭ, Uładzimir Janukievič, Andrej Pakalenka and Daniil Palanski are imprisoned on high treason charges, according to Pozirk.
After voting in a presidential election in Minsk on January 26, 2025, Alaksandar Łukašenka made it clear that he had ordered a crackdown on the media in revenge for criticism of the 2020 election and his handling of post-election protests.
“We don’t forgive [those who worked] in the media because they are public figures. It is difficult to forgive journalists, they are public figures,” he said.
Journalist Dabravolski given nine years in prison
- Politics, SocietyCourts convicting more teenagers of “extremism”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPseudo-Christian radical targeting Belarusian extremist woman’s kids in Poland, Minsk saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityFive Lithuanians facing prison over Belarusian-smuggled cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyForeign investment in fixed assets reported down 32 percent in five yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SecurityRecruitment officials visiting farms to see who should be punished with service at Ukrainian borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyDefense ministry sets up commission to probe deadly truck crashThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: pre-tax monthly pay up 3.3 percent in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvia to boost border defenses amid surge in irregular crossings via BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands one Ukrainian, 11 others as “extremists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SocietyBelarus triples waste recycling over decade, operator saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTrials, pressure on students and exilesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyTwo soldiers killed, 14 injured after truck overturns in Mahiloŭ regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB adds four exiled activists, seven others to list of terroristsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, Security
- Politics, Security
- Economy, PoliticsRyžankoŭ invites Chinese FM to visit Minsk, discusses military ties with Indian FMThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyAnti-Lukašenka filmmaker Juryj Chaščavacki dies at 78The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityMinsk informs Warsaw about alleged terrorist plot against “Belarusian female activist” in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+



