Israeli Drone Strike Kills Lebanese Journalist Mohammad Shehadeh in Southern Lebanon
August 8, 2025
Turkey Blocks Jailed Journalist Fatih Altaylı’s YouTube Channel on National Security Grounds
August 8, 2025
August 8, 2025 – Belarus –
Belarusian journalist Danil Palianski, 27, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of high treason, in a move widely condemned by press freedom advocates as part of an ongoing crackdown on independent media in the country. The verdict, delivered by the Minsk City Court in a closed trial, accused Palianski of “providing assistance to foreign organisations” deemed harmful to Belarus’ national security. Authorities have not disclosed the specifics of the alleged treason, but rights groups believe the charges are politically motivated and linked to his reporting.
Palianski was arrested in December 2023 while working for the independent news outlet Mediazona Belarus, known for covering political repression, human rights violations, and court proceedings against dissidents. The publication, which operates in exile, has been labelled “extremist” by the Belarusian government, making it illegal for citizens to share its content or collaborate with its journalists.
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), Palianski’s trial was held behind closed doors, denying him a public defence and limiting information available to his family. State-run media offered no detailed evidence, instead framing the case as part of the government’s efforts to counter “foreign interference.”
Human rights watchdogs, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Amnesty International, condemned the sentence, calling it an assault on press freedom and a violation of international law. RSF noted that Belarus currently has over 30 journalists behind bars, making it one of the most repressive countries in Europe for media workers.
Since the contested 2020 presidential election, President Alexander Lukashenko’s government has intensified its crackdown on dissent, targeting independent news outlets, civil society groups, and opposition figures. Journalists have faced arrests, exile, and intimidation, with many forced to work underground or flee abroad to avoid prosecution.
For colleagues and supporters, Palianski’s imprisonment is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in Belarus. Advocacy groups stress that his case exemplifies the broader erosion of free expression in the country, where reporting the truth has increasingly become a criminal act.
References –
https://apnews.com/article/belarus-repression-media-journalism-43b12ef76332906fbea728eda2cfa8ed
