Belarus: CWFIJ condemns the detention of journalists Alina Skrabunova and Aliaksandr Sidareuski.

February 10, 2021 - The police arrested journalists Alina Skrabunova and Aliaksandr Sidareuski who are affiliated with Belsat TV on Friday. They were released later in the day, however, a summon from the courts was sent out to both of them.

The Belarusian authorities continued to repress the journalist community in the country by detaining Alina Skrabunova and Aliaksandr Sidareuski on Friday morning without cause. Even though both were later released, Alina’s equipment and phone were confiscated by the police. They are expected to present themselves in court and face the threat of being detained again. 

This is not the first time Alina and Aliaksandr have been harassed by the authorities. Both journalists were fined 1,350 Belarusian rubles (US$511) for reporting on a rally in support of opposition candidate Sviatlana Cichanouskaya that took place back in July 2020. Alina and Aliaksandr are only two of the many journalists that the state has repeatedly targeted for covering the growing discontent against the ruling government. At least forty-nine journalists were detained by the police for doing their jobs, and several remain in police custody. 

The Coalition For Women in Journalism strongly condemns the misuse of state power that is rampant in Belarus right now. A government that routinely curbs civil liberties and targets journalists for fulfilling their duties to maintain its power loses all authority in the eyes of the world.