The Minsk City Court on June 26 sentenced journalist Kiryl Pazniak to 3.5 years in prison and a fine of 550 base units (24,750 Belarusian rubles). The information was reported by Belsat, citing sources.
According to the outlet, his daughter Yanina was also sentenced to imprisonment, although the exact term has not yet been disclosed. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of 3.5 years for the father and three years for the daughter.
Both were convicted of “discrediting” Belarus and creating an “extremist formation.” The father and daughter were found to be its organizers. According to Belsat, Yanina’s only involvement was registering a TikTok channel.
Kiryl Pazniak and his daughter Yanina Pazniak were detained in September 2025. The journalist’s YouTube channel, Platform 375, was designated an “extremist formation.” Through the channel, Kiryl Pazniak covered economic and political developments in the country and, in 2021-2022, moderated online debates between pro-government propagandists and their opponents. Yanina’s alleged involvement consisted of registering the TikTok channel.
The trial began on June 17. A hearing initially scheduled for May 14 was postponed because of the journalist’s serious health condition. While being held at the Akrestsina detention center, Pazniak contracted COVID-19 and developed severe pneumonia with lung complications. He spent several days on a ventilator.
