Ihar Ilyash

Affiliated media: Freelance journalist

Incident date: October 22, 2024

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

It became known about the detention of independent journalist Ihar Ilyash in Minsk. A Telegram channel, close to the security officers, hinted that the detention was somehow connected with the TV channel Belsat. Later, the law enforcers published a forced «repentance» video with the journalist. Handcuffed, Ilyash says on camera that he was detained for «interviewing resources recognised as extremist formations on the territory of Belarus». The footage of bursting into Ilyash’s flat shows that at least four fighters of the special forces unit Berkut in full armour came to detain him. Ihar Ilyash is the husband of convicted journalist Katsyaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava), who has been in prison since 2020.