Alena Shabunya

Affiliated media: Freelance journalist

Incident date: January 10, 2025

Attack type:

• Criminal/administrative prosecution excluding (1), (2) and (3)

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Vitebsk

Additional information:

A photograph of Vitebsk journalist Alena Shabunya has appeared on police wanted posters among individuals being sought “for committing crimes.” According to the caption under the journalist’s photo, she is accused under Article 361 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus — “Calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus.” Currently, Alena Shabunya is abroad. She was forced to leave Belarus after the post-election protests in 2020 due to political persecution and pressure from the authorities over her professional activities.