Journalist Former Political Prisoner Arrested At Border Checkpoint

He was returning from Poland to Belarus.

Former political prisoner and journalist Siarhei Hardziyevich was arrested at the border while returning from Poland to Belarus. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reports this.

Siarhei Hardziyevich was arrested on September 14 at the Brest checkpoint. They arrested him and placed him in a temporary detention facility after checking his phone. The BAJ suggests that he may be charged under Art. 19.11 Code of Administrative Offenses for the “spread of extremist information”.

Siarhei Hardziyevich collaborated with the Pieršy Rehijon media outlet. He was convicted under three articles of the Criminal Code in 2021: for “insulting” Lukashenka, police and for defamation. The journalist did not admit his guilt. He was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison. He was recognized as a political prisoner. He was released at the end of October 2022.