Uladzimir Laptsevich

Affiliated media: Mahilyouski Rehiyon, Journalist

Incident date: May 12, 2021

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Mahiliou

Additional information:

The journalist of the website Mahilyouski Rehiyon Uladzimir Laptsevich was detained by law enforcers near the building of the regional court, where a closed criminal trial of political activists and bloggers was held. The journalist was preparing a story about the event. He was taken to the Leninski District Police Department and charged with repeated participation in an unauthorised event within a year (Part 3 of Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus). He was held in the temporary detention centre until the trial. On May 15, the judge of the Leninski District Court of Mahiliou declared Laptsevich guilty and arrested him for 20 days. Uladzimir felt very badly because of high blood pressure, and medics were called to him in the detention center. He also told about torture in the detention centre and about unlawful detention and holding behind bars.