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Attacks on independent media in Belarus continue. On December 22, police burst into apartment of the Press Club Program Director Alla Sharko. She managed to inform BAJ that the police were breaking her door. Press Club Director Siarhei Alsheuski's apartment was also searched. Another search took place at the apartment of Press Club Academy Director Siarhei Yakupau. The police also came with a search warrant to the Press Club office. Its founder Yulia Slutskaya was detained today upon her arrival at the Minsk National Airport.  All Press Club representatives whose homes were serached today were detained for 72 hours, reports TUT.BY.

In the morning Andrei Bastunets was interrogated as a witness in a criminal case, instigated under Article 361 of the Criminal Code (calls to actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus).

On December 16, BAJ chairman Andrei Bastunets will have to come to the Central office of the Investigative Committee of Belarus for interrogation.

At least 274 journalists imprisoned globally despite COVID-19 risks in jail.

Belsat reporter Stas Ivashkevich, photographer Henadz Veratsinski, and Onliner editor Mikalai Hradziushka were detained in Minsk on December 13.

In light of recent findings on Belarus by both the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, organisations express concern about ongoing abuses carried out by agents and supporters of the government of President Alexander Lukashenko and call for immediate investigations and redress.

After nearly 450 press freedom violations registered in Belarus in the past four months, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is recommending 15 ways to end what is an unprecedented crackdown on the media in a European country.

Investigative Committee has summoned all 20 employees of Nasha Niva for questioning,   NN chief editor Yahor Martsinovich posted on his Facebook page. Martsinovich is a suspect under Article 188 of the Criminal Code (defamation).

On Sunday, November 29, police detained journalists in Minsk and Brest during the coverage and after the protests.

Six journalists are targeted by criminal investigation under Article 342 part 1 of the Criminal Code "organizing and preparing activities that seriously breach public order". They face punishment from a fine to three years of imprisonment. Another three journalists are suspects in other criminal cases. This is unprecedented pressure on journalists.

Belsat camerawoman Daria Chultsova was not released after 7 days of arrest. On November 15, she worked with another Belsat journalist, Katsyaryna Andreeva, streaming from "Square of Changes". They were detained and judged together on the same day. Both were given 7 days of arrest.

The Prosecutor General's office announced the initiation of a criminal case due to "disclosure of medical secrets" and "providing false information" on the death of Raman Bandarenka. Its press service reported, "the suspects have been detained." Security forces came for TUT.BY journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich, who wrote about Raman Bandarenka.

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