Anastasia Matyash

Affiliated media: Belsat, Proofreader

Incident date: April 19, 2024

Attack type:

• Confiscation/seizure of property, vehicles, equipment, documents

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

The Minsk City Court sentenced Anastasia Matyash to 2 years in prison on charges of cooperation with the TV channel Belsat, declared an «extremist formation» by the Belarusian regime in November 2021. Judge Sviatlana Makarevich found her guilty under Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (participation in an extremist formation). In addition to imprisonment, the philologist was punished with a huge fine of 500 base amounts (about EUR 35,000). Her computer and smartphone were also confiscated in favour of the state. According to the prosecution, Matyash repeatedly carried out language consultations, translation, correction, editing of texts, «which were further used by members of the extremist formation Belsat for extremist activities, including by creating and disseminating them using mass media and the Internet».