Siarhei Hardzievich

Affiliated media: Pershy Rehiyon, Former journalist

Incident date: September 14, 2023

Attack type:

• Confiscation/seizure of property, vehicles, equipment, documents

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Brest

Additional information:

The law enforcers detained Siarhei Hardzievich, a former journalist of the regional media outlet Pershy Rehiyon. The incident occurred at the Belarusian-Polish border during passport control when the journalist was returning home to Drahichyn after a private trip to Poland. At the Brest border crossing, the law enforcement officers demanded to check the journalist’s phone. As a result, the phone was confiscated and Hardzievich was charged with an administrative report for «distribution of extremist materials» (Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus) and placed in the Brest temporary detention centre.