June 29, Pozirk. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned prison sentences for journalist Kirył Paźniak and his daughter Janina, calling for their immediate release, says a statement posted on Telegram.
Three days ago, a judge in Minsk sentenced Paźniak to three and a half years in prison and a fine of 24,750 rubels ($8,800). His daughter also received a prison sentence, but the term remains unknown. Belarusian authorities accused both of belonging to an “extremist group” and discrediting Belarus.
Paźniak and his daughter were arrested last September over links to Platforma 375, a YouTube channel focusing on news in the Mahiloŭ region and blacklisted in Belarus.
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, 21 media workers are currently behind bars in Belarus. In all, human rights organizations had identified and documented 851 political prisoners in Belarus as of June 29.
