Ihar Karnei
Prisoner
Date of birth: 1 January 1968
Date of detention: 17 July 2023
Charges indicted:
- Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
Sentence: 3 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 7 June 2024
Judge: Siarhei Katser
Prison: Penal colony No. 17
Groups: Journalists
Ihar Karnei worked as a journalist for Radio Svaboda and is known for his essays on the cultural and historical heritage of Belarus, as well as his travel blogging. Shortly after his detention on July 17, 2023, his family left the country.
He was initially arrested for subscribing to 'extremist' channels and detained for 10 days. Later, a criminal case was brought against him. He was charged with participating in an extremist group under Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code.
On March 22, 2024, Judge Siarhei Katser sentenced Ihar Karnei to three years' imprisonment. Additionally, he was fined 20,000 rubles.
