Belarusian Radio Host and Musician Aleh Khamenka Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

A Belarusian court has sentenced journalist, musician, and radio host Aleh Khamenka to three years in prison on charges linked to alleged “extremist activities,” in a case that press freedom organizations say reflects the continuing crackdown on independent media in the country.

The Minsk City Court delivered the verdict on 4 March 2026, convicting Khamenka of facilitating extremist activities and ordering him to serve three years in a general-regime penal colony. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of about 20,000 Belarusian rubles (approximately $6,800).

Authorities said the charges stemmed from Khamenka’s cooperation with the Poland-based broadcaster Radio Racyja, an independent Belarusian media outlet that authorities have designated as an “extremist formation.” Investigators reportedly examined recordings of his radio programs as part of the criminal case.

Khamenka had worked with Radio Racyja since the late 2000s and hosted several cultural and music programs, including shows such as A Dozen Hits and Folk Gate. Beyond his journalism work, he is widely known in Belarus as a musician, composer, and cultural figure, which made his prosecution particularly notable among observers of Belarusian cultural life.

The journalist was detained on 17 June 2025 after Belarusian security forces searched his apartment in Minsk. His detention became public later that month, and by July, authorities had opened a criminal case accusing him of cooperating with independent media organizations labeled extremist by the government.

Following several hearings, the trial began on 19 February 2026, culminating in the March verdict. Human rights organizations had previously recognized Khamenka as a political prisoner, arguing that the charges were directly related to his professional activities and association with independent journalism.

Press freedom advocates strongly condemned the sentence. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the ruling represents another example of Belarusian authorities using extremism legislation to punish independent media workers. CPJ noted that Khamenka’s conviction was the third sentence against journalists in Belarus within a single week, highlighting what observers describe as an intensifying crackdown on the press.

Media rights groups say the case illustrates the continued use of broad national security and extremism laws to silence critical voices. Since the disputed 2020 presidential election and the subsequent political crackdown, dozens of journalists in Belarus have been arrested, prosecuted, or forced into exile as authorities tighten control over independent reporting.

International press freedom organizations have called on Belarusian authorities to release Khamenka immediately and to end the prosecution of journalists for their professional work, warning that such cases further undermine media freedom in the country.

Reference –

https://spring96.org/en/news/119752

https://ifex.org/belarus-radio-host-and-musician-aleh-khamenka-sentenced-to-3-years-in-prison/

https://reform.news/en/musician-and-radio-host-aleh-khamenka-sentenced-to-three-years-in-prison

Belarusian court sentences journalist Aleh Khamenka to 3 years in prison