Anton Motolko

Affiliated media: Belarusian Gayun (Telegram Channel), Blogger

Incident date: November 14, 2024

Attack type:

• Criminal/administrative prosecution excluding (1), (2) and (3)

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Pozirk

Location: Belarus, Hrodna

Additional information:

The Hrodna regional prosecutor reports that the criminal case against blogger Anton Motolko has been submitted to be heard in court. The blogger and creator of Telegram channel 'Belarusian Gayun' faces charges based on 12 articles of the criminal code. The case is being handled by a Special Committee (SC) via 'special proceedings', meaning in absentia. According to the SC, Motolko is accused of attempting to seize power, extremism, high treason, organizing riots accompanied by acts of violence, inciting hatred, violence or the threat thereof towards a government official, slander of/insulting Aleksandr Lukashenko, financing extremist activity and so on. The prosecutor estimates the damages suffered by government agencies and organizations to be upwards of 30 million rubles. Motolko's property, amounting to a value of 53,000 rulbes was seized. Fearing politically motivated prosecution, Motolko left Belarus in 2020.