Anatol Bukas

Affiliated media: Borisovskiye Novosti , Former editor-in-chief

Incident date: August 8, 2022

Attack type:

• Pressure on a media worker via judicial and/or economic pressure on relatives and loved ones

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Borisov

Additional information:

The law enforcers detained the former editor-in-chief of the independent regional newspaper Borisovskiye Novosti Anatol Bukas and his wife. They were pulled out of the car in the parking lot. During the detention, the journalist was accused of distributing extremist materials. Bukas’ apartment was searched — the policemen seized computer equipment and digital media. By evening, his wife was released and Anatol Bukas was held in a detention center until the trial. On August 10, the Borisov District Court found the journalist guilty and sent him into custody for 15 days under Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus. The trial was held in the premises of the Borisov District Police Department, no one was allowed to attend the consideration of the case.