Belarusian journalist Ales Sabaleuski is serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted in July 2024 on anti-state charges. Sabaleuski, a freelance reporter, has worked with several publications in the eastern city of Mahilou.
Belarusian authorities arrested him on December 12, 2023. The next day, a court in Mahilou ordered Sabaleuski to be detained for 10 days on undisclosed charges.
A court in Mahilou convicted Sabaleuski and freelance camera operator Yauhen Hlushkou, who was detained in Mahilou in early January, on separate charges of participating in an extremist formation and participating in an armed formation on July 31, 2024. The court also fined Sabaleuski and Hlushkou 8,000 Belarusian rubles each (US$2,450).
The extremism charges stem from claims they worked with independent news outlet 6TV Bielarus, according to a representative from the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), an advocacy and trade group operating from exile, who spoke with CPJ. The BAJ representative added that the other charge is likely linked to a donation to help Ukraine.
The Belarusian State Security Service (KGB) labeled 6TV Bielarus an extremist group in December 2023.
On September 27, 2024, the Belarusian Supreme Court canceled the charge of participating in an armed formation against Sabaleuski and Hlushkou and instead convicted Sabaleuski of creating or participating in an extremist formation under Part 1 and 3 of Article 361-1 of the Belarusian Criminal code, the BAJ representative told CPJ. Hlushkou was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1. CPJ was unable to confirm whether the journalist’s sentences changed as a result of the trial.
The Belarusian Ministry of Interior added Sabaleuski to its list of people allegedly involved in extremist activity on October 11.
CPJ’s emails to the Belarusian Investigative Committee, the country’s law enforcement agency responsible for investigating crimes, in late 2024 for comment did not receive any reply.