Brussels, 7.10.2022
On 6 October the Minsk District Court sentenced media manager Andrei Aleksandrov to 14 years in prison, his wife Irina Zlobina to 9 years, director of the BelaPAN agency Dmitry Novozhilov to 6 years, and editor-in-chief and director of BelaPAN Irina Levshina to 4 years.
These harsh verdicts are yet another proof that the Lukashenko regime is actively targeting independent media aiming to eliminate independent voices in the country, exterminate free media and deny the population in Belarus access to impartial and independent information. This brutal crackdown continues and people are being detained and imprisoned in appalling conditions, condemned to long prison sentences in political trials conducted behind closed doors.
The EU reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and urges Belarus to stop these continuing human rights violations. We will continue to stand with all independent voices and all the people oppressed in Belarus.
Source – EEAS