Aleh Hruzdzilovich

Affiliated media: Radio Svaboda, Journalist

Incident date: July 16, 2021

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

Nine law enforcers searched the journalist’s flat. Hruzdilovich’s wife told about the consequences: «His and my phones, all computers and laptops were taken away. They also took all the money from my pocket, even Belarusian rubles. And another 300 dollars that I planned to use». In the search warrant, it was written that Hruzdilovich was a suspect under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them). After the search, the journalist was taken away in handcuffs and held in the detention center on Akrestsina for 7 days. The conditions of detention were humiliating: no mattresses or underwear were issued, everyone sleeps on bare boards, and instead of a pillow the prisoners use a plastic bottle with water. The lights are on 24 hours a day. The parcels from relatives are not given, the prisoners are not taken to the shower. At 2 AM and 4 AM, there are checks.