Homel Journalist Yauhen Merkis Sentenced To Four Years in Penal Colony

The trial was held behind closed doors.

Homel journalist Yevgeny Merkis was sentenced to four years in a penal colony, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

He was accused under two articles of the Criminal Code: Part 3 of Aricle 361-1 (“Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it”), Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361 (“Assistance to extremist activity”). The trial in the Merkis case was held behind closed doors.

Recall, journalist, historian, local historian and manager of cultural projects Yauhen Merkis was detained in Homel on September 13, 2022, and placed in a temporary detention center.

His house was searched in July 2021.