Opposition leader condemns lengthy prison sentences for Nexta journalists

May 3, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has condemned the lengthy prison sentences imposed on Nexta journalists on May 3, her Telegram channel says.

“This verdict is also a test for all of us,” she said noting the importance of democratic values. “No one should be convicted on political grounds. No one should go through torture. People’s lives cannot be bargaining chips.”

Authorities should stop concealing information about jailed former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, blogger Siarhiej Cichanoŭski, journalist Ihar Łosik and hundreds of other political prisoners, Cichanoŭskaja said, stressing that all Belarusians persecuted in politically-motivated cases should be released.

The Minsk Regional Court has sentenced journalist Raman Pratasievič to eight years in prison. He was arrested in May 2021 following the forced landing of the Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius at a Minsk airport.

The EU-based Nexta media project founder Ściapan Puciła and journalist Jan Rudzik were given 20 and 19 years in prison in absentia. Authorities accused them of eleven criminal offenses including forming a terrorist group, inciting mass riots, calling for the seizure of power and other crimes.