Yauhen Merkis
Date of birth: 8 November 1986
Date of detention: 13 September 2022
Charges indicted:
Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code — Promoting extremist activities
Prison: Pre-trial detention center No. 3
On 13 September 2022, the apartment of journalist Yauhen Merkis in Homieĺ was searched, and Yauhen was arrested. Yauhen Merkis was charged under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activities). Under this article, the journalist can be punished by the restriction of freedom for up to four years, or imprisonment of two to six years.
Yauhen Merkis is a journalist who covered protests after the 2020 presidential election. He was repeatedly arrested by police, fined, and detained for 24 hours. After a number of independent media outlets were recognized as extremist formations, Yauhen chose to engage in local historical activities.