Aliaksei Batsiukou, vlogger and journalist from Mahiliou, reportedly detained
According to his friends, he never returned from the interrogation at the KGB office that took place after the search of his house on December 5. His location is currently unknown.
On December 5 and 6, journalists and activists suspected of having links with the regional media resources Mahiliou.Media and 6TV Belarus were searched and interrogated. On 29 November, the State Security Committee declared these media outlets as “extremist formations”. The Interior Ministry of Belarus posted a notification about this status on December 4.
Last Friday, the state TV channel Belarus 4 Mahiliou aired a show “Face Down”, featuring the former director of the Mahiliou History Museum and vlogger Aliaksei Batsiukou brutally detained during a raid.
According to the show, Aliaksei Batsiukou edited a media resource recognized by the KGB as an “extremist formation.” He was also involved in distributing funds intended for journalists’ salaries.
Dzmitry Salaujou, an activist referred to as Batsiukou’s accomplice in the movie, believes that Aliaksei has been detained in a criminal case. His whereabouts have been unknown for almost two weeks.
In late July and early August, Aliaksei Batsiukou was detained in an administrative case for 11 days. He was found guilty of distributing “extremist information products”.
Aliaksei Batsiukou was fined in 2020 for participating in unauthorized public gatherings. As a consequence, his labor contract was not renewed in January 2021, and he was forced to leave his position as director of the Mahiliou History Museum.
After leaving the museum, Batsiukou created his own YouTube channel, where he discussed the history of Mahiliou.
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