Affiliated media: BBC, Journalists

Incident date: February 4, 2021

Attack type:

• Illegal impediments to journalistic activity, denial of access to information

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: BAJ - Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

Journalists of the independent media outlets were not allowed to attend the preliminary hearing on the Belgazprombank case (among the accused is Viktar Babaryka, a candidate for Belarus's presidency in the 2020 elections). In the Supreme Court, under whose jurisdiction the process is taking place, this was explained by the epidemiological situation and the lack of seats in the courtroom. Earlier, senior officials have repeatedly stated that the trial of Babaryka will be open.