"With this verdict, the closed court in Gomla effectively equated the right to receive and disseminate information to extremist activity," the BAJ statement says.

BAJ states that the authorities continue to persecute journalists for exercising their right to freedom of speech, "but journalists are not extremists, and dissent is not a crime."

The organization expressed its support and respect for Slavnikova and "all other colleagues who are behind bars."

According to the BAJ, 29 media representatives are currently in captivity.

On August 3, the Gomel Regional Court sentenced journalist Irina Slavnikova, a police prisoner, to 5 years in a general regime prison.

Judge

found her guilty according to Part 1 of Art.

342 (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order and are combined with obvious disobedience to the legal requirements of representatives of the authorities, which entailed a violation of the operation of transport) and Part 1 of Art.

3611 (management of extremist formation) of the Criminal Code.

On July 26, state prosecutor

asked the court to sentence Slavnikova to 4 years in prison, but the court gave more.