Belarusian activist Gnyot free, out of Serbia: Now in EU territory

Gnyot issued a statement confirming his arrival in the European Union (EU).

“I immensely thank my attorneys and lawyers….public and human rights organizations, media and journalists, my friends and relatives, athletes, colleagues in the film department and all those thousands and thousands of indifferent people who fought for my life. My story is a Hollywood movie. I have a story to tell! I ask that you give me some time to get used to the freedom and security I haven’t had for so long. I will invite everyone to a press conference in the coming days. I love you very much! We won!” wrote Gnyot.

Gnyot had been charged with tax evasion in Minsk. He was arrested at Belgrade Airport in late October 2023 on an Interpol warrant issued by Belarus, which has since been withdrawn. After spending seven months in Belgrade’s Central Prison, he was transferred to house arrest in June this year.

Gnyot maintains that the charges against him in Belarus are fabricated and represent political persecution for his activism against the Belarusian regime.

In a previous interview with N1, he expressed fears that if returned to Belarus, he could face 20 to 25 years in prison or potentially even the death penalty.

There are currently around 1,400 political prisoners in Belarusian prisons. The country has been ruled by Alexandr Lukashenko since 1994, whose victory in the 2020 presidential election was not recognized by the EU.