Belarusian journalist Siarhei Chabotska is serving his third 15-day administrative arrest in a row after being convicted on October 25, 2024, on charges of distributing, producing, and storing “extremist” materials. He has been detained since October 23, 2024.
Chabotska is the founder and editor-in-chief of s13.ru, a news portal created in 2005 that covers the western city of Hrodna. The court also labeled the content of s13.ru’s website and Telegram channel as “extremist.”
A representative with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), an advocacy and trade group operating from exile, who spoke to CPJ anonymously, citing fear of reprisal, said Chabotska was expected to be released on November 6, but he was sentenced to another 15 days of administrative arrest for allegedly violating the procedure of organizing or holding mass protests.
On November 22, a Hrodna court again sentenced him to 15 days of administrative arrest for distributing extremist materials.
CPJ’s emails to the Belarusian Investigative Committee, the country’s law enforcement agency responsible for investigating crimes, in late 2024 requesting comment did not receive any reply.