Larysa Shchyrakova

Affiliated media: Freelance journalist

Incident date: May 24, 2021

Attack type:

• Bullying, intimidation, pressure, threats of violence and death, including cyber-

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Homiel

Additional information:

The police officer Artsyom Zhevniak wrote a fake account to Larysa Shchyrakova on Odnoklassniki, demanding her to appear at the Tsentralny District Police Department of Homiel to be drawn up a report for allegedly violating the law on mass media (Article 23.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus). In response, the journalist offered to draw up a report without her presence. After that, the policeman started calling Shchyrakova’s minor son and asked about his mother’s whereabouts. He called twice: when the child was at school, and the second time — when he was preparing for classes at home. The journalist considers such actions of the police as an attempt of pressure for professional activities.