The term of detention of investigative journalist and Belsat TV contributor Ihar Ilyash has been extended; he has not been released on Monday.
His relatives and friends were waiting for Ihar near the detention centre in Akrestsin Street in Minsk, but a guard told them that Ilyash would remain in jail for another ten days.
The media worker is charged under Art. 293 and 342 of the Criminal Code (‘mass riots’ and ‘organisation of actions that grossly violate public order’, respectively).
On July 16, Ihar Ilyash was detained and taken to the Investigative Committee. The officers reportedly made attempts to humiliate him during the detention. Ihar is a co-author of the book Belarusian Donbas which the authorities recognised as ‘extremist’. He is the husband of Belsat TV journalist Katsyaryna Andreyeva who was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in February, 2021.
