Belarusian court gives 8-year term to Polish TV journalist Poczobut

MINSK. Feb 8 (Interfax) - The Grodno Regional Court on Wednesday handed down an eight-year term in an enhanced-security penal colony to Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist of Poland's Polonia international public television channel and a Union of Poles in Belarus activist, the press service for the Belarusian Supreme Court said.

"In accordance with Part 2 of Article 72 of the Criminal Code, for the totality of the crimes committed, Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in an enhanced-security correctional facility by partly adding up the penalties," the press service said.

The trial was held behind closed doors.

The journalist was charged with calling for actions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus and with inciting hatred. He was found guilty on both charges.

His sentence is yet to enter into force and may be appealed in due course.

Poczobut has been in custody since March 25, 2021. Head of the Union of Poles in Belarus Andzelika Borys was also detained in March of that year.