Larysa Shchyrakova’s son no longer in child care home
The son of detained ex-journalist Larysa Shchyrakova finally returned home, her family reported.
Sixteen-year-old Sviataslau spent more than two weeks in a child care home nearby the house where he lived with his mother. The teenager was placed in the children’s home after law enforcement officers searched Shchyrakova’s house and put her in custody.
Sviataslau was taken home by his father, who arrived from Novosibirsk (Russian Federation) where he had lived for the past few years. The father and son will stay in Homel for the next month, until the situation with his mother is clarified.
Previously, Larysa Shchyrakova cooperated with independent publications. But back in 2021, she publicly stated that she was quitting journalism because of the harassment she had to endure for working without press credentials.
Over the past few months, the ex-journalist has been engaged in ethnic photo shoots – taking pictures of people in Belarusian folk costumes and theme-related places.
Larysa Shchyrakova was detained on 6 December 2022 and placed in the Homel pre-trial detention center on charges of discrediting Belarus. The details of the accusations are unknown, as the lawyer signed a non-disclosure plea.