Maksim Horchenok

Affiliated media: Belsat TV channel , Freelance journalist

Incident date: August 28, 2020

Attack type:

• Fines and other restrictions following administrative offences

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

About 50 media representatives were detained on August 27 in Minsk on Freedom Square and Independence Square. Journalists covered the action against violence and the march of believers of all confessions to the Red Church. Plain-clothed security officials loaded all the journalists into the paddy wagon without a registration plate and took them to the police department to «check their documents». The police kept journalists in the station for several hours. In addition to their documents, they forcibly checked their phones. Maksim Horchenok refused to give his smartphone for inspection. An administrative report was drawn up on him for participation in an unauthorized event. He was held in the temporary detention centre until the trial. On August 28, the court, having considered the case, sent the documents to the police for revision. The journalist was released.