Belarus Court Sentences Two Independent Journalists to Lengthy Prison Terms for High Treason
A court in Belarus has convicted two independent journalists on charges of high treason and handed them long prison sentences, the latest move in the government's ongoing crackdown on dissent and free speech, according to a media rights group. The verdict was announced on Friday, 27 February 2026, highlighting the persistent suppression of independent voices in the country.
Details of the Convictions and Sentences
Uladzimir Yanukevich, 65, who founded and edited the Intex-Press and BAR24 media outlets, received a 14-year sentence. His colleague, 44-year-old Andrei Pakalenka, was given a 12-year sentence. Their media sites were among the most popular in Belarus, making their convictions particularly significant in the context of media freedom.
The Regional Court in Brest, a city on the border with Poland, conducted the proceedings behind closed doors, and details of the specific charges remain unclear. State television aired a report alleging that the journalists had links to the German Embassy, though no independent verification has been provided.
Health Concerns and Broader Crackdown Context
Yanukevich, who has serious health issues, has been denied proper medical assistance while in custody, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. This adds to concerns about the treatment of political prisoners in the country.
Andrei Bastunets, head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, told The Associated Press, "These horrific sentences show that the authorities have no intention of halting the most sweeping repressions against journalists in Europe, now in its sixth year. Any dissent is harshly punished by the authorities." Currently, 28 independent journalists are imprisoned in Belarus, as reported by Bastunets' group.
Historical Background and Political Climate
President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for over three decades, maintaining his grip on power through a relentless crackdown on dissent. Following the 2020 election, widely seen as rigged, hundreds of thousands protested, leading to more than 65,000 arrests, thousands beaten, and hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations closed and outlawed.
Yanukevich and Pakalenka were among seven Intex-Press journalists arrested in December 2024 after searches of their editorial offices and homes. In August 2025, four of them were convicted of aiding "extremist activities" and sentenced to a work-release program at designated factories. Accusations of extremism are commonly used by Belarusian authorities to silence independent voices.
Ongoing Trials and International Reactions
Also on Friday, the Minsk City Court opened the trial of another independent journalist, Pavel Dabravolski, who faces charges of high treason. Dabravolski, who has worked for Belarusian and international media outlets, has been in custody since his arrest in January 2025.
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told AP, "Journalism is not a crime, and the convicted journalists are victims of the authorities who are building a totalitarian state. Lukashenko's regime fears the truth more than anything."
International Isolation and Recent Developments
Belarus has faced years of Western isolation and sanctions for its crackdown on dissent and for allowing Moscow to use its territory in the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recently, Lukashenko has sought to repair relations with the West by releasing hundreds of political prisoners.
However, the Belarusian authorities have continued their suppression of dissent. According to the Viasna human rights group, Belarus currently holds 1,143 political prisoners, indicating that the crackdown remains severe despite some diplomatic overtures.
