Some journalists were released after document checks, others were charged with "participation in an unauthorised mass action", one will be deported.
This statement was originally published on baj.by on 28 August 2020.
On August 27, 2020, the police detained journalists covering events on Freedom and Independence Square in Minsk.
They were taken to Kastrychnitski police department for a check of their IDs. Altogether, about 50 journalists were detained. The police released most of them after checking their documents. However, four journalists refused to give their smartphones to police for a check-up. Therefore, the police drew up reports with charges of participation in an unauthorized mass action. Katsiaryna Andreyeva, Maksim Harchanok, Aliaksandr Vasiukovich, and Andrei Yarashevich were left in custody until trial.
Swedish journalist Paul Hansen will be deported. Swedish ambassador to Belarus Christina Johannesson came to the Kastrychnitski police station where the journalists were kept. Paul Hansen is to leave Belarus tomorrow. He is banned from travelling to Belarus for 5 years.
BelaPAN journalist Tatsiana Karavenkova was taken to hospital by an ambulance.
The following journalists were detained:
Uladz Hrydzin, RFE/RL
Zakhar Shcharbakou, BelaPAN
Siarhei Satsiuk, BelaPAN
Vadzim Zamirouski, TUT.BY
Stanislau Sharshukou, TUT.BY
Vasil Fedasenka, Reuters
Aliaksandr Vasiukovich, photographer
Nadzeya Buzhan, Nasha Niva
Dzmitry Lavetski, AP
Katsiaryna Andreyeva, Belsat
Maksim Kalitouski, Belsat
Uladzimir Kostsin, Reuters
Sergey Bobylev, TASS
Evgeniy Odinokov, RIA Novosti
Pavel Martsinchyk, Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi
Dzmitry Stseshyn, Komsomolskaya Pravda
Yauhen Yerchak, photographer
Anastasia Reznikava, Belsat
Siarhei Kavaliou, Belsat
Aliaksandr Ziankou, Belsat
Andrei Rabchyk, RFE/RL
Aleh Hruzdzilovich, RFE/RL
Viktar Drachou
Paul Hansen, photographer, Sweden
Liosha Sudnikau, TUT.BY
Pavel Dabravolski
Tatsiana Karavenkova, BelaPAN
Aliaksandra Bahuslauskaya, DW
Liza Vereikina, BBC
Steve Rosenberg, BBC
Kate Peters, BBC
Anton Chicherov, BBC
Elena Vasiljeva, Sputnik
Andrzej Zaucha, TVN Poland
Antonina Matveeva, Lenta.ru
Vital Aliakhnovich, Onliner
Aliaksandr Ruzhachka, Onliner
Siarhei Ptushka, Onliner
Ales Dashchynski, RFE/RL
Siarhei Gapon, AFP
In Brest, TUT.BY journalist Stanislau Korshunou was released.
