Belarusian Journalist Palina Pitkevich Sentenced to Three Years for Alleged Extremism

February 27, 2025 – Belarus – 

Belarusian journalist and writer Palina Pitkevich was sentenced to three years in prison by the Minsk City Court on charges of participating in an “extremist formation.” The case stemmed from her alleged involvement with Media IQ, a media literacy project run by Press Club Belarus, which the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) designated as an extremist organization in June 2024.

Pitkevich, born in 1994 and a graduate of the Faculty of Journalism at Belarusian State University, was known for her cultural journalism and contributions to independent media. Her arrest was reported on February 24, 2025, and her trial commenced on March 7, 2025, presided over by Judge Sviatlana Cherepanava.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists and other human rights organizations have condemned her sentencing, recognizing her as a political prisoner. They argue that the charges are part of a broader crackdown on independent media and dissenting voices in Belarus.

International watchdogs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have called for her immediate release, highlighting the deteriorating state of press freedom in Belarus, which has been labeled the worst jailer of journalists in Europe and Central Asia.

Pitkevich’s case exemplifies the Belarusian government’s use of extremism laws to suppress independent journalism and restrict freedom of expression. Her sentencing underscores the risks faced by journalists operating in authoritarian environments.

Reference –

https://fom.coe.int/en/alerte/detail/107642170

Belarusian journalist Palina Pitkevich’s extremism trial set to open