The trial over BelaPAN journalists starts
Today, June 6, Minsk regional court considers the BelaPAN case, in which four political prisoners are tried: journalist and media manager Andrei Aliaksandrau and his partner Iryna Zlobina, BelaPAN editor-in-chief and director Iryna Leushyna, and former agency director Dzmitryi Navazhylau. Judge Viachaslau Tuleika presides the closed hearing.
- Trial in the "BelaPAN case" on June 6
Political prisoners are charged under a number of articles of the Criminal Code:
Part 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order) – Andrei Aliaksandrau and Iryna Zlobina;
Part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code (high treason) – Andrei Aliaksandrau and Iryna Zlobina;
Part 1 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (creating an extremist formation and leading it) – Andrei Aliaksandrau, Iryna Leushyna, and Dzmitryi Navazhylau;
Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code (evasion of taxes and fees) – Andrei Aliaksandrau andDzmitryi Navazhylau.
“An analysis of the agency's financial activities revealed that at least 18 foreign organizations had been covertly backing it with at least $1,600,000 since 2014. Furthermore, last year foreign associations allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to create a YouTube channel specializing in strengthening destructive and extremist sentiments in the country, as well as discrediting the Republic of Belarus in the international arena, which the investigation promptly revealed and suppressed,” the representative of the Investigative Committee stated.
In November 2021, the KGB recognized BelaPAN as an extremist group.
On April 8 this year, it was also stated that the investigation of the "BelaPAN case" established funding for "extremist activities" totaling at least four million dollars.
“The seizure of state power in Belarus in 2020 was implemented by bringing together representatives of the ‘protest’ movement in order to form a controlled crowd and radical mood among the citizens of the country. For this purpose, cooperation was established with representatives of ‘human rights’ and other organizations, including foreign ones.
Investigators collected evidence of the involvement of Andrei Aliaksandrau and Iryna Zlobina in the criminal activities of the foreign organization BY_help, aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus. The accused were actively involved in the organization of its work and performance of individual tasks of collection, movement, storage and distribution of funds,” the agency said.
