Belarusian authorities detained former journalist Andrei Tolchyn in late October 2024. He was released in late January after three months under administrative arrest.
Tolchyn, a freelance camera operator, had been previously detained in September 2023 and sentenced in March 2024 on charges of “facilitating extremist activity” and defaming the president. He received a presidential pardon and was released on September 17, 2024, after serving almost a year of a two-and-a-half year prison sentence.
Tolchyn was among 37 political prisoners pardoned by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on September 16, 2024, who were convicted on “extremism” charges. The list included prisoners with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Authorities had previously detained Tolchyn multiple times, and also had fined him, in connection to his work.