Journalist Dzianis Ivashyn sentenced to 13 years in jail for high treason
On September 14, 2022, the Hrodna Regional Court pronounced the sentence on Novy Chas journalist Dzianis Ivashyn. The political prisoner was sentenced to 13 years and 1 month in a medium-security penal colony.
- Ivashyn had to deliver his closing speech behind closed doors in the absence of the public as there were “data considered as a state secret”
Judge Valeryi Ramanouski also ordered a fine of 4,800 Belarusian rubles ($1,900) and a moral compensation of 2,000 rubles ($800) to each of the nine victims in the case. Ivashyn was convicted of ‘interference in the activities of a police officer’ (Article 365 of the Criminal Code) and ‘high treason’ (Part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code). The trial which lasted for a month was held behind closed doors, as there were “data considered as a state secret”.
On September 12, Ivashyn gave his closing speech without the public.
He was detained by KGB officers on March 12, 2021. Ivashyn is known for his investigative publications about Russian influence on Belarus and Syria. His latest article dealt with former officers of the Ukrainian Berkut special police force who fled Ukraine and were hired by the Belarusian riot police. Two weeks before the journalist’s arrest, the third part of the investigation was released. It is known, that the political prisoner’s correspondence is obstructed, periodicals are not given to him, and he was repeatedly placed in disciplinary cell. The journalist refused to write a petition for clemency. In the summer of 2021 Ivashyn started having heart problems.
