Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist for Radio Free Europe (RFE), marked his third year in prison on November 25, facing charges that he, his employer, and human rights organizations regard as politically motivated.
Kuznechyk, a father of two, was arrested on November 25, 2021, and initially sentenced to 10 days in prison for hooliganism, a charge he denied. After serving this sentence, Kuznechyk was not released but was instead charged with creating an extremist group—a charge that authorities did not inform his family or colleagues about for months.
On June 8, 2022, a regional court in eastern Belarus found Kuznechyk guilty and sentenced him to six years in prison. The trial lasted only one day.
Human rights groups in Belarus have recognized Kuznechyk as a political prisoner. He worked for the Belarusian Service of RFE, known locally as Radio Svaboda. Kuznechyk has maintained his innocence, and along with around 150 other political prisoners, including another RFE journalist, Ihar Losik, and former presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, is serving his sentence in the same prison in the northern city of Navapolatsk.
Since the controversial presidential elections in August 2020, which sparked massive protests against the victory of authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, tens of thousands of Belarusians have been arrested for expressing opposition to the regime. Most opposition politicians, who claim the election was rigged, have been forced into exile for fear of their safety.
Many Western governments have refused to recognize the election results and do not consider Lukashenka the legitimate leader of the country. In response to the crackdown on opposition figures, many countries have imposed sanctions on his regime.
Kuznechyk is one of three RFE journalists currently imprisoned on charges related to their work. Losik, a blogger and contributor to the Belarusian Service of RFE, was sentenced in December 2021 to 15 years in prison, while Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist with dual Ukrainian and Russian citizenship who contributed to Crimea.Realities, a regional service of RFE, was sentenced in February 2022 to six years in prison by a Russian court in occupied Crimea.
Human rights groups and RFE have repeatedly called for the release of the three, stating they were unjustly detained.
