Belarus: CFWIJ Condemns The Authorities’ Unjustified Search of Katerina Pytleva’s Apartment

Location: Belarus
Date: September 8, 2021

State authorities searched the apartment of ex-TV broadcaster Katerina Pytleva on September 7. The journalist fled the country earlier this year after facing threats of a possible criminal case against her. The CFWIJ is alarmed by the persistent harassment of women journalists in the country. We have recorded several threats and violations against press freedom, particularly involving women journalists. The mounting threats to journalists under Lukashenko’s regime have created a repressive environment for press freedom. The CFWIJ urges the present government to break this pattern.

Yesterday, Katerina shared in a Facebook post, “In total, the door was broken not only the entrance but also for some reason in the bedroom, although there were no locks inside, cut the speakers, smashed the hedgehog figures, cut the wedding photos, smashed the vinyl collection and sprinkled the cereals and flour all over the apartment... I'm already not talking about the boxes we put all the stuff in when we left. This is the revenge of the regime. No comments.” 

She stated they left a couple of installations. “They took the pictures of friends from the refrigerator, tore them up, and threw them into a water filter,” Katerina revealed she has no idea what motivated the search or how to interpret the incident. 

In the summer of 2020, Katerina condemned the human rights violations committed by the security forces. After that, she was forced to quit her job. She left the country earlier this year due to fears of facing further harassment, which has not subsided even in her absence. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands state authorities end its intimidation of journalists. The CFWIJ has created a detailed report on the threats and violations women journalists have faced recently. We extend our solidarity to Katerina Pytleva and support her in the face of such harassment. 

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.