Five criminal proceedings against media representatives will be launched in Belarus in June.

Authorities are systematically persecuting media workers, accusing our colleagues of various articles of the Criminal Code, from protests to treason, the BAJ said in a statement.

The trial in the case of the BelaPAN news agency will start in Minsk on June 6.

Defendants

former deputy director of the news agency, is on trial

.

, former director of BelaPAN

(tax evasion and creation of extremist group "BelaPAN") and editor-in-chief

(creation of extremist group "BelaPAN" or participation in it).

, editor-in-chief of the Novy Chas newspaper, which has been closed by the authorities, will be tried in Minsk on June 7

.

The editor of the independent publication is accused of organizing protests and participating in them.

will be tried behind closed doors on June 8 in Mahilou

.

After his detention, the authorities included Radio Svaboda in the list of extremist groups, and now the journalist will be tried for participation in such a group.

Also in June, the trial of Belsat journalist

, who has already been sentenced to 2 years in prison for covering the protests and sentenced to 1.5 years in prison, is scheduled.

Shortly before her release, she was accused of treason.

Catherine faces up to 15 years in prison.

The trial over Belsat journalist

will start in June .

Like Andrei Kuznechyk, she is accused of creating or participating in extremist groups.

A total of 27 media representatives are being held behind bars in Belarus in appalling conditions.

This figure, unfortunately, is increasing.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists emphasizes that journalists are not criminals.

Freedom of expression is the foundation of a democratic society.

Journalists should be released from prisons immediately, be able to work properly and live without fear for their families and themselves.