Journalist faces up to 15 years in prison

A Hrodna-based journalist Dzianis Ivashyn has spent more than eight months in custody. He has been recently charged with state treason, extending the possible prison term to up to 15 years. He is known for his investigation of the influence of the so-called “Russian world” on Belarus and Syria and for covering the scandalous developments in Kurapaty. Not long before the arrest, the journalist published an investigation into the former Berkut officers who are ex-members of the Ukrainian special police unit recruited to serve in the Belarusian security forces. Mr. Ivashyn stated that all of them had received Belarusian citizenship and had been hired by the police in violation of Belarusian law. The former Berkut officers participated in the detention of peaceful Belarusian protesters in 2020.

Dzianis Ivashyn was placed in a punishment cell at the Hrodna prison five times, and he developed heart problems there. He has not received any letters and has not been allowed visits from his family for more than two months.