Journalist Dzmitry Lupach publicly declared «criminal» in Hlybokaje
Dzmitry Lupach’s photos, along with those of his two children, were displayed on the information stand near the Hlybokaje police station. The stand is typically used for posting wanted person notices. There is now a separate list titled ‘Criminals.’ However, most of these individuals have not been tried or proven guilty of any crimes.
According to reports, Dzmitry Lupach has absconded the investigative agencies. His alleged crime is «recruitment, involvement in extremist activities, training, and other related activities.»
Freelance journalist Dzmitry Lupach was forced to leave Belarus after numerous cases of administrative prosecution for cooperation with independent media. Just before his departure in July 2021, he was detained for three days in a criminal case for allegedly inciting hatred. In December 2023, law enforcement officers searched Dzmitry Lupach’s apartment in Hlybokaye, as well as his inherited country house.
In December of last year, a series of interrogations and searches took place in the Vitsebsk region as part of a criminal case against the creators of a story filmed in Polatsk and broadcast on the Belsat TV channel. The TV channel has been declared an ‘extremist formation’ in Belarus. Dzmitry Lupach suspects that the searches in his house may be related to this case, but he is not aware of any personal accusations of ‘promoting extremism’. He has not received a summons to appear in court, and there is no official information that he has already been convicted of a criminal offense. That is why he believes that being labeled a ‘criminal’ is slanderous.
On the same stand near the Hlybokaye police station, there are also photos of his children – his son Valiantsin and daughter Katsiaryna, who now also live abroad. The article mentions Valiantsin Lupach allegedly evading the draft and Katiaryna Lupach allegedly absconding from the investigation initiated under part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them).
Sviatlana, the eldest daughter of Dzmitry Lupach, has already been convicted under the same article and is serving her sentence in Homel Correctional Facility No. 4. On January 19 of this year, the woman’s name appeared on the List of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, Foreign Nationals, and Stateless Persons Involved in Extremist Activities. The Belarusian human rights community recognized her as a political prisoner.