Belarusian Journalist Sentenced to Four Years for Criticizing President

On December 11, 2024, the Minsk City Court convicted journalist Volha Radzivonava on charges of "insulting the president" and "discrediting Belarus," sentencing her to four years in prison. Radzivonava, who worked for the news portal KYKY.org and freelanced for other outlets, had been in custody since her arrest in March 2024.

Human rights organizations report that while in custody, Radzivonava was subjected to psychiatric evaluation. Her conviction is part of a broader crackdown on dissent following the disputed 2020 presidential election, which granted President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term. Since then, approximately 65,000 people have been arrested, and an estimated 1,300 political prisoners remain detained under harsh conditions.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists reports that 35 journalists are currently imprisoned for political reasons. The organization's leader, Andrei Bastunets, condemned Radzivonava's sentencing as an attempt to intimidate the press ahead of the January 2025 presidential election, where Lukashenko seeks a seventh term.

President Lukashenko, in power for over 30 years, continues to rely on Russian support, allowing Russia to use Belarusian territory for military operations and to station tactical nuclear weapons.