Dmitry Kazakevich

Affiliated media: Belsat, Freelance Journalist

Incident date: May 16, 2024

Attack type:

• Search with a court decree

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Vitebsk

Additional information:

Police broke down the door into journalist Dmitry Kazakevich's apartment and conducted a search. Agents with the Ministry of Emergency Situations were summoned to break into the apartment, doing so by cutting through the metal door with a 'Bolgarka' (angle grinder). After the search, Kazakevich's home was seized. Agents left a note which read 'Sealed. Home seized. Entry has been facilitated. KGB Officer Krasnov'. A few days later (20th of May), it was announced live on state TV that a criminal investigation has been opened into Kazakevich (among 104 people), for his participation in Freedom Day celebrations (25th of March) while abroad. Kazakevich clarified that he wasn't participating in the parade in Warsaw, but was in face covering events as part of a media team. The apartment is uninhabited, given that Kazakevich and his family were forced to leave Belarus due to harassment while trying to do his job.