, detained last November,

will start on June 8 in the Mahilou regional court.

The process will be held behind closed doors.

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" has learned what Kuznechyk will be tried for.

He is charged under Part 1 of Art.

361-1 of the Criminal Code (Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it).

He faces up to 7 years in prison.

Radio Svaboda freelancer Andrei Kuznechyk was detained on a bicycle ride on November 25, 2021. His apartment was searched, equipment and other items were confiscated.

On November 26, the Zavodski District Court of Minsk charged Andrei Kuznechyk with petty hooliganism and sentenced him to 10 days in jail, then sentenced Kuznechyk to another administrative arrest, and on December 23, it became known that a criminal case had been opened against the journalist.

On May 12, it became known that Kuznechyk had been transferred from Minsk pre-trial detention center No. 1 on Valadarski Street to Mahilou prison.

Behind bars, because journalists