Two years in prison and $36,700 fine for “cooperation” with Belsat TV

On April 19, 2024, the Min­sk City Court sen­tenced Anas­ta­sia Mat­si­ash, alleged­ly an employ­ee of the Bel­sat TV chan­nel, for par­tic­i­pat­ing in an “extrem­ist for­ma­tion.”  Sudzia: Svy­at­lana Makare­vich.

Anas­ta­sia Mat­si­ash. Pho­to from her social media page

The ver­dict says that from June 2021 to Novem­ber 2023, Anas­ta­sia Mat­si­ash was a lan­guage con­sul­tant for the Pol­ish TVP, which includes the Pol­ish TV chan­nel Bel­sat. Bel­sat, an extrem­ist orga­ni­za­tion, hired Mat­si­ash to do trans­la­tions, proof­read­ing, and oth­er work. She then used these mate­ri­als to help Bel­sat with its extrem­ist activ­i­ties, includ­ing cre­at­ing and shar­ing them online. She was rec­og­nized by the court as a mem­ber of the “extrem­ist for­ma­tion.”

Anas­ta­sia was sen­tenced to two years in prison and fined $6,100. Her com­put­er and phone were also con­fis­cat­ed. The woman was also ordered to pay back over $30,000, which she alleged­ly got from her “crim­i­nal activ­i­ties.”

The ver­dict is not final and can be appealed. Anas­ta­sia Mat­si­ash did not admit to the charges.