Join the campaign to FREE ANDREI AKILASANDRAU and his partner IRINA ZLOBINA, led by Index on Censorship and Article 19
London/ Athens February 11, 2022
One year since the detention of Andrei Aliaksandrau and Irina Zlobina, 
Index on Censorship and ARTICLE 19 have launched a campaign aimed at amplifying calls for their immediate and unconditional release. Andrei and Irina have been behind bars since January 12, 2021, when they were imprisoned for defending fundamental human rights.
A journalist and human rights activist who previously worked at both Index on Censorship and ARTICLE 19, Andrei now faces charges of “treason to the state”. The charges stem from allegations that he paid the fines of journalists and protestors detained during the pro-democracy protests that were triggered by the highly disputed 2020 presidential election. Belarusian law enforcement agencies erroneously equate this with financing unlawful protests. If convicted, Andrei will face up to 15 years in prison.
“Thanks to you, and other good people, my conscience is clear,” he wrote to a friend last year.
His partner, Irina, was also detained “on suspicion of financing protest activities” and has since been charged with “organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order”. She faces up to three years in prison.
We urge you to help us call for their immediate and unconditional release by joining our campaign:
Go to the Weblink to sign the petition to call for their immediate and unconditional release. And please share ARTICLE 19 and Index on Censorship’s campaign posts on social media. Use the hashtags #FreeAndrei, #FreeIrina, #FreeAndreiAndIrina to post messages of support and for the total of 33 journalists imprisoned in Belarus.
In Belarus, 33 journalists remain imprisoned. This is who they are and why they were detained.