Dzmitry Navazhylau
ex-director of BelaPAN news agency
Date of birth: 12 August 1972
Date of detention: 18 August 2021
Charges indicted:
Art. 243 of the Criminal Code — Evasion of taxes and fees
Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
Judge: Viachaslau Tuleyka
Prison: Pre-trial detention center No. 1
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Min Li Marti, member of the Swiss National Council
Dzmitry Navazhylau is former director of the BelaPAN news agency.
Navazhylau was arested on August 18, 2021, after security officers searched his home and BelaPAN's office in Minsk.
Navazhylau was detained for 72 hours under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or participation in them).
10 days after arrest, Navazhylau was transferred to pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Minsk.
In early September, Navazhylau was officially charged under Part 2 of Art. 243 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion entailing large-scale damage).
In November, Navazhylau faced new charges of “creating an extremist formation”.