Belarusian human rights organisations have issued a statement recognising Yury Trashchynski as a political prisoner.
Trashchynski worked as a sound engineer at the Belarusian Radio and Television Company for more than 20 years. After the 2020 presidential election, he signed a petition against violence and later moved to Poland.
Security forces detained Trashchynski on Nov. 15, 2025, when he returned to Minsk.
On May 4, 2026, he was sentenced under the article on participation in an extremist formation (Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code). The charges were based on his cooperation with Radio Racyja, which was designated an “extremist formation” on Jan. 16.
Trashchynski was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and fined 500 basic units, the human rights centre Viasna reported.
