Siarhei Niarouny

Affiliated media: Journalist

Incident date: October 16, 2021

Attack type:

• Search with a court decree

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

Police officers searched the journalist’s flat and confiscated computer equipment. After the search, Siarhei Niarouny was drawn up a report for distribution of extremist materials (Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus) and sent to the detention centre for 2 days until the trial. On October 18, the court postponed the case till the October 20, and the journalist was released. On October 20, the police detained Niarouny at the entrance to the court building — they drew up a second report under Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences and again sent him to the detention centre until the trial. On October 21, the court sent the case for revision and the journalist was released. On November 1, the court combined the reports into one case and fined Siarhei Niarouny 20 basic amounts. He was tried for likes on the Facebook pages of TUT.by and Belsat. Judge Alena Azarenka considered that he allegedly «spread extremist materials» by likes.