Iryna Damaratskaya

Affiliated media: Hantsavitski Chas, Journalist

Incident date: November 18, 2022

Attack type:

• Bullying, intimidation, pressure, threats of violence and death, including cyber-

Who attacked: Non-authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Hantsevichy

Additional information:

The correspondent of the independent regional newspaper Hantsavitski Chas Iryna Damaratskaya was summoned to the local police station. The reason for the summons was not specified. At the police station, the journalist was told that she was under administrative proceedings under Part 3 of Article 23.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (illegal production and/or distribution of media products). Inspector Ihar Kazak also listed Article 19.1 (petty hooliganism). It turned out that Hantsevichy District Police Department started a check-up in connection with the publication of Hantsavitski Chas about a local private enterprise, where the employees were being paid late. As a result, Iryna was never able to find out what exactly she had violated. However, at the police department, she was questioned in detail not only about the subject of the article, but also about the work of the website Hantsavitski Chas.