Belarus: Iryna Slaunikava Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison Amid Crackdown Against Journalists
Location: BelarusDate: August 3, 2022
Iryna Slavnikova, a former Belsat TV representative, was sentenced to 5 years in prison term amid a crackdown. This sentence came after illegally detained her and her husband at Minsk airport once they arrived from Egypt in October 2021, before being sent to prison under charges of sharing “extremist” content on her social media. The Coalition For Women In Journalism asks for immediate release for Iryna, her husband, and other female journalists who face organized targeting from the authorities, who are known among the worst jailers of journalists in the world.
On August 3, Iryna was sentenced to five years in the Homel regional court in the southeastern city of Homel. Judge Mikalay Dolya finds her guilty of leading an extremist group and organizing activities that disrupt social order, under Article 342 of the Criminal Code.
Iryna, a former correspondent for Poland-based Belsat TV, was first arrested along with her husband, Alyaksandr Loyka, on October 29, 2021. Their relatives who went to pick them up from the airport could not see them; on November 1, 2021, it was conveyed that Iryna and Loyka were sent to prison for 15 days after a Minsk court's decision.
First, Iryna and her husband were convicted for 30 days (15 days followed by another punishment of another 15 days) after being accused of distributing extremist materials and minor hooliganism. Then, after serving their prison terms, the couple were again accused of "leading an extremist group" and "preparing events disrupting social order". Only Iryna was arrested a second time, and Loyka was not. Iryna went on trial in June, and was convicted during a closed hearing.
In addition to the punishment against Iryna, Belsat TV, which covered the 2020 protests, has suffered the wrath of state authorities for its critical reporting. Several of its journalists have been detained and charged, and confiscated their equipment, leaving journalists unable to perform their duties. It also blocked its website and all social media accounts. In July 2021, authorities labelled Belsat TV as “extremist.”
The sentence came from the vindictive temperament of the Belarusian government against the journalists who covered anti-government protests in 2020. In the first week of June 2022, at least three women journalists stood trials other than Iryna, and other arbitrary detentions campaigned for another six female journalists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism repeatedly condemns the persistent legal harassment of women journalists in the country and calls for an immediate end to state-backed violations against them. Find: Five Jailed Women Journalists Face Trials On Trumped Up Charges As Government Crackdown Continues
The administration resumed a crackdown on the media and journalists for more than two years after the oppositional protests against the election results, which brought the authoritarian ruler Aleksandr Lukashenko, by a landslide. Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and tightened his grip on the country after the last election in 2022, his regime arrested tens of thousands of people, and most opposition members fled the country, due to the crackdown.
At the most recent prison census for CPJ, in December 2021, Belarus was the fifth worst jailer of journalists in the world, with at least 19 journalists behind bars.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces the verdict handed to Iryna Slaunikava, and demands the authorities should release her immediately, and so are the several other women journalists facing persecution for doing their job. The CFWIJ expresses grave concern over the government's continued onslaught against the independent press since the disputed 2020 presidential election and demands the authorities stop systematic campaigns against the journalists who covered anti-government protests.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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