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Political prisoner Ihar Losik remains behind bars so far: on January 11, a Minsk court dismissed a complaint filed by his defence lawyer and let the detainer stand, RFE/RL reports.

Founder of the Press Club Belarus Yulia Slutskaya has been charged under Part 2 of Article 243 - evasion of taxes or duties on an especially large scale.  Its director Siarhei Alsheuski is charged under Part 6 of Article 16 (complicity ) of a crime under part 2 of Article 243, BelaPAN reports refering to his attorney Anton Hashynski. 

The list includes incidents which the Belarusian Association of Journalists regards as violations of journalists' rights, committed by representatives of the authorities. 2021 — Repressions against journalists in Belarus, 2021 (chart)

At 10:30 a.m. police came to the office of Hantsavitski Chas newspaper with a search warrant.

For over five years, Press Club Belarus, an Associate Member of the International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC) since 2016, has contributed to the Belarusian media community's development, promoted journalistic standards, and acted as a discussion platform. We have organised dozens of lectures and masterclasses with world-renowned experts and facilitated numerous initiatives to develop quality journalism in Belarus.

Three Belarusian journalists — Katsiaryna Barysevich from TUT.BY, Daria Chultsova and Katsiaryna Andreyeva from "Belsat" are in custody now, on criminal charges. Barysevich quoted an emergency hospital doctor and medical records when reporting that Raman Bandarenka was sober when taken to hospital — and was charged with disclosing medical secrets, "which led to serious consequences". Andreyeva and Chultsova were livestreaming from the Square of Change — and have been charged with organizing and preparing actions that seriously breach public order. TUT.BY is telling their stories, what their criminal cases are about, where they are now and what their colleagues know them for.

Five Press Club representatives whose homes were searched on Tuesday are now behind bars.

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.