The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has delivered a strong protest to the charge d’affaires of Belarus and demand for the immediate release of TVP journalist Iryna Słaunikawa and others unlawfully deprived of their liberty in Belarus.

The TVP journalist was sentenced to five years in a penal colony by a Belarusian court on Wednesday. Iryna Slaunikava was performing her journalistic duties at the centre of events during the 2020 social protests in Belarus. She was arrested together with her husband Alyaksandr Loika last October at Minsk airport as they were returning home from holiday. A court in Gomel convicted her of allegedly organising protests and leading an extremist group.

Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marcin Przydacz on Wednesday evening expressed concern at the unacceptable conviction of a journalist who had been associated with TVP for many years regarding human rights and freedom of the press.

“The charge d’affaires of Belarus has been summoned to the MFA; tomorrow morning a firm protest from the Polish side will be handed over to him, as well as a demand for the immediate release not only the convicted journalist, but also others, including journalists unlawfully deprived of freedom, headed by Andrzej Poczobut”, said Marcin Przydacz.

He also announced other diplomatic actions to be taken internationally, through the European Union and bilateral channels. The foreign ministry will report on these activities later, once they have been completed.

Marcin Przydacz pointed out that it is difficult to assess when Polish and international efforts may have an effect, as Belarus is a state that pursues a very oppressive policy towards its citizens and does not change it despite various international actions and the introduction of successive sanctions packages. “Therefore, the instruments used by the EU, including sanctions, must go much further”, he stressed.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński