A court in Minsk has granted a prosecution request to hold a closed-door trial of journalist Paval Belavus on charges related to his participation in anti-government protests.
Judge Zhanna Brisina of the Moscow district court in the Belarusian capital handed down the ruling on February 20.
Initially, the court hearing was open to the public, but at the beginning of the session, the state prosecutor made a request for a closed hearing "in order to prevent the disclosure of information posted in sources recognized as extremist."
Belavus, the founder of the Symbal.by Internet store and manager of the Belarusian Council of Culture who has been held behind bars for more than a year, is charged with treason, spreading ideas of Belarusian nationalism, conducting anti-state activities, and violating public order.
The Belarusian Council of Culture, a nongovernmental organization that says it promotes Belarusian culture policies, was deemed an extremist organization last year.
Belavus has already been found guilty of taking part in an unsanctioned rally and hooliganism.
If convicted of the new charges, Belavus faces from seven to 15 years in prison.
Tensions have been running high in Belarus since strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of a presidential election in August 2020 that opponents and the West say was rigged.
Many Western nations have since refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus, leaving him more reliant than ever on Russia, which analysts say is using his weakened position to strengthen its hold over its smaller neighbor.
Tens of thousands of people have been detained, and human rights activists say hundreds of others are now in jail as political prisoners.
Independent media and opposition social media channels have been targeted as well.