Yauhen Merkis

Affiliated media: Freelance journalist

Incident date: May 30, 2023

Attack type:

• Court trial

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Homel

Additional information:

The Homel Regional Court sentenced freelance journalist Yauhen Merkis to 4 years of imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Judge Aliaksei Khlyshchankou found the journalist guilty of creating an extremist formation or participation in it (Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus), as well as of promoting extremist activity (Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus). The trial was held in closed mode. According to human rights activists, the charges were related to the transfer of photo information about the movement of Russian military equipment in the Homel region to Internet resources, recognised by the Belarusian regime as «extremist».