Journalist Padabed Sentenced To Four Years Of Imprisonment In Minsk

The trial of the political prisoner lasted two days.

The trial of political prisoner Pavel Padabed began on June 28 in the Minsk Municipal Court. The case was considered by Judge Yauhen Pisarevich, who has been constantly participating in political trials since 2020, Radio Svaboda reports.

At the first hearing, the court “questioned” Padabed about participation in an “extremist formation” — he was charged with cooperation with the Belsat TV channel. He is also suspected of preparing stories for investigative programs, including the disappearance of videographer Dzmitry Zavadski and the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet, reports the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

Videos of “protest content” were also shown in court, some of them already 10-15 years old (at that time, there was no concept of “extremist formations” in relation to the media in Belarusian legislation).

In addition, it became clear that Pavel Padabed was being followed, his phone was tapped. They presented recordings of conversations, from which alleged involvement in an “extremist resource” follows, as evidence. Correspondence in messengers was also quoted.

On June 30, the journalist was sentenced to four years in prison.

Padabed has been behind bars for more than six months.