Location: Belarus
Date: July 2, 2021

Glafira Zhuk, a journalist associated with Narodnaya Volya, was released after 30 days in detention. During her detention, including two days in solitary confinement, she was not allowed to shower and only let outside once. The court convicted Glafira for a social media post she shared while covering a case. Judicial authorities deemed her a participant in the mass protest. Glafira had to spend her 20th birthday in prison at Akrestsin Street. The journalist revealed after her release that the cells were overcrowded and female prisoners were only allowed to walk for 20-30 min. CFWIJ condemns the unjustified detention of Glafira. We are dismayed by the journalism faculty’s expulsion of Glafira following her release.

“I had gone to get a manicure done. My hands had antiseptic on them, and three men came and presented the administrator ID. I had realized they were behind me as they approached me: ‘Glafira Dmitrievna? You are detained on suspicion of participating in a mass protest. I asked them why they did not take me from home so I could take my clothes. I was there all day,” Glafira recalled.

She had to spend two days in solitary confinement after the prison authorities found some scratched inscriptions on a plate and cup. The imprisoned women were considered responsible, and before the lunch could end, they sent the entire cell into solitary confinement.

When Glafira was released on June 28, she heard about her expulsion from the Faculty of Journalism as she missed the session. Her mailbox had several messages from her faculty stating that she should appear for exams. There was no letter regarding her expulsion, so she went to the dean's office to clarify her status. The dean then confirmed that she was expelled. She is committed to applying for her reinstatement so she may continue her studies.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Glafira and urges the Faculty of Journalism to repeal her expulsion and allow her to continue the program. We also demand judicial authorities to reconsider their decision against Glafira as it has become a pattern in the country to target critical voices on baseless charges.

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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