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October 20, 2025 – Belarus –
A Belarusian journalist, Pavel Dabravolski, has been formally charged with high treason. This crime carries a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years under Article 356 (Part 1) of the Belarusian Criminal Code.
Dabravolski, aged 35, was arrested on 22 January 2025 shortly after returning to Minsk from abroad. Before his detention, he worked at the independent news agency BelaPAN, which Belarusian authorities declared an “extremist formation” in 2021.
Press freedom groups, including the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), have recognized Dabravolski as a political prisoner, citing a wider campaign by authorities to dismantle independent media and criminalize critical reporting.
The case is emblematic of a growing trend in Belarus, where accusations of “treason” and “extremism” are frequently used to suppress dissent and silence journalists. This escalation reflects an environment in which reporting on sensitive political or social issues can result in severe criminal penalties.
Dabravolski remains in pre-trial detention at a KGB-operated facility in Minsk. His case has already drawn concern from human rights observers, who argue that it signals further deterioration of press freedom in the country. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence, setting a chilling precedent for other journalists and media professionals.
The situation underscores the increasing weaponization of legal tools to stifle independent journalism in Belarus. Press freedom organizations have urged international actors to closely monitor the case and pressure authorities to release Dabravolski and other detained journalists.
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