Location: Belarus, Minsk
Date: May 17, 2021

Freelance photographer Tatsyana Kapitonava was arbitrarily detained on May 13, while covering a conference at Startup Family coworking centre, in Minsk. The photographer was sentenced to 10 days over administrative offences. Tatsyana was accused of participating in an unauthorised demonstration. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the arbitrary and unjust detention against the photographer. We demand immediate dismissal of the charges that Tatsyana faced.

On May 13, police detained photographer Tatsyana Kapitonava while she was covering a conference at Startup Family coworking centre, in Minsk. Police took the photographer when she was filming the Emerge conference. According to the Belsat TV, eyewitnesses said police intentionally came for Tatsyana and detained her.

She was taken to Savetski’s police station. She appeared in court and charged under Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences last Friday. The Belarusian officials claimed the participation of Tatsyana in an 'unauthorized demonstration’ took place at Kamarouski Market. In the demonstration, women walking in white were forming a human chain and laying flowers. At the court, the photojournalist confirmed that she was there, but refused to participate in the protest. However, the judge of the court, Alena Zhukovich, disregarded the photographer's defence and sentenced her to 10 days of administrative detention.

Since the dubious presidential election of August 9, 2020, the dust has yet to settle in Belarus. Following the election results, which reaffirmed “Europe’s last dictator”, Alexander Lukashenko, in power, Belarus tightened its restrictions on journalists. The second wave of repression, after the allegedly falsified election results, emerged on March 29, 2021, in Minsk. State officials cracked down on civilians and journalists for organizing a protest rally against Lukashenko. At least five journalists, most of them women, were arrested. Photojournalist Nadia Buzhan, journalist Katsiaryna Karpitskaya, Natallia Dulina, and Andżelika Borys were on the list of detainees.

The Coalition For Women in Journalism strongly condemns the misuse of state power that is rampant in Belarus right now. We find these arbitrary detentions overshadow press freedom. We demand immediate dismissal of the charges that Tatsyana faced.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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