[ad_1]
Two journalists from the Polish-based opposition television Belsat were arrested in November while filming a demonstration in support of one of the murdered anti-government protesters.
Katerina Andrejeva, 27, and Darya Chulcova, 23, have been convicted of “organizing and carrying out protests that seriously violate public order.”
During court hearings earlier this month, both journalists did not plead guilty and prosecutors claimed they had used their report to encourage people to attend the massive event.
“I showed these events live. For this, I was incarcerated on fabricated charges, “Andreieva said in court in her last pre-trial statement on Wednesday, quoted by Belsat.
The case was criticized by human rights and press freedom organizations, and Western diplomats condemned the trial.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for two decades, was declared the winner of last August’s elections, but this has sparked protests that have lasted for half a year. The opposition and the West consider that vote is rigged.
The Minsk regime has begun to quell demonstrations that have killed at least four people, left thousands behind bars and hundreds more denounce torture in custody.
Belarus is dealing strictly with independent media: journalists were detained 477 times last year, according to the Belarusian Journalists Association (BJA). Several detainees were prosecuted.
The militia searched the homes of dozens of journalists, human rights activists and trade unionists on Tuesday.
At that time, the trial of famous opponent Viktor Babaryka began on Wednesday. He planned to compete with Lukashenko in the presidential elections, but was arrested and charged with bribery and money laundering in June.
In a speech to loyalists last week, Lukashenko stressed that his country had successfully thwarted attempts to overthrow his government from abroad.
[ad_2]
