Detentions of journalists in Belarus, August 12
13 August 2020
On August 12, Belarusians continued to protest against the rigged election results. There was less police brutality on the streets, however, some journalists were detained.
«Traffic policeman put a gun to my head,» — Volha Tsyhankova says.
In Minsk, political analyst Vital Tsyhankou was brutally detained and beaten Dr. Volha Tsyhankova was detained, too.
Tsyhankova told their story:
«We were driving on Niamiha Street when we were stopped by a policeman. He demanded that we leave the car. With all recent events in mind, when people are pulled out of the car, beaten and detained, I refused. I said that I would show my documents from the car. The policeman’s response was pretty brutal. He began began to lower the window and hit the car, he put a gun to my head through the window and demanded to get out. I drove a bit forward. We are surrounded by several traffic police cars, Vitaly was dragged from the car and beaten, with his face down on the concrete. We are now in the Maskouski police department. »
Also, Minsk police detained Ukrainian journalists Konstantin Reutski (Hromadske TV) and Yeven Vasilyev. They stayed at the apartment of Tatsiana Reviaka, a human rights activist. On August 12, the police came to search Tatsiana’s place.
The search was conducted by the Investigative Commitee. They were interested in the belongings of the Ukrainian citizens. Finally, the police left with a laptop and a passport of one of the Ukrainians and Tatsiana’s laptop. Tatsiana was not detained.
Alos, Belsat journalists Lubou Luniova and Zmitser Soltan were detained today. They were released after some time without charges.
The Village Belarus journalist Andrei Lychauka was snatched on the street and later released without charges.
In Babruisk, Bobruiski Courier journalist Andrei Shobin was detained. He was walking to cover the protests in the city. Andrew will be tried in prison tomorrow, i.e. the trial will be closed for public.
A freelance photographer of Brestskaya Gazeta Sergei Nikrashevich was detained also. He is in the detention center of the Leninsky District Department of Internal Affairs of Brest. It is not known what he was detained for.
Repressions against journalists in Belarus in 2020 (the chart is regularly updated)
@bajmedia
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