May 3, 2022
Novy Chas is a weekly newspaper founded by the Minsk city organization of the Francišak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society, is published in the Belarusian language, and pays significant attention to the topics of culture, history, human rights, political prisoners. The newspaper has a supplement “Literary Belarus” thanks to cooperation with the Union of Belarusian Writers. ” The newspaper Novy Chas was published on paper when there was no independent press left in Belarus. All political prisoners were subscribed to Novy Chas. In August 2021, the editors of the newspaper Novy Chas announced that it would no longer be published on paper, as printing houses refused to print it. The newspaper is still being published on the Internet: on a dedicated website, social networks, and a Telegram channel.
On October 20, 2021, the editorial office of the Novy Chas newspaper was searched by the authorities. Aksana Kołb was taken to the Investigative Committee, where she was questioned and released on a non-disclosure bond.
On April 22, Aksana Kołb’s relatives reported that she had been charged under part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them). Aksana Kołb was transferred from Akrescina Detention Center to Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1 in Minsk.
On April 26, 2022, Aksana Kołb was recognized as a political prisoner.
On June 15, the Central District Court in Minsk sentenced Aksana Kołb under part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (participation in actions that grossly violate public order). Court decision: 2.5 years of restriction of freedom with referral to an open-type correctional institution. Aksana Kołb was released in the courtroom until sent to serve her sentence.
She left Belarus in August 2022.
On October 28, the Ministry of Internal Affairs added Aksana Kołb to the “List of Persons Involved in Extremist Activities.”