On November 30, it has become known what charge was brought against our colleague Darya Chultsova.
The 23-year-old Belsat TV camerawoman was detained along with her workmate, journalist Katsyaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava) in mid November immediately after their livestreaming and covering the brutal crackdown on protesters who gathered in the so-called Square of Change, one of the offstreet yards in Charvyakou Street in Minsk. Earlier, Minsker Raman Bandarenka had been abducted from that yard and beaten to death.
Darya Chultsova, as well as Katsyaryna Andreyeva, is accused of ‘organising and preparing actions that grossly violate public order’ (Art. 342-1 of the Criminal Code). If found guilty, the two girls who are now being held in Zhodzina prison may face up to three years of imprisonment.
On November 24, Belarusian human rights watchdogs recognised them as political prisoners.
Three Belarusian media workers are currently behind bars as suspects in criminal cases: Katsyaryna Andreyeva (Belsat TV), Darya Chultsova (Belsat TV), Katsyaryna Barysevich (TUT.BY). It is an open secret that messages from outside give enourmous support and encouragement to a prisoner; that is why we urge our readers to send letters to the jailed journalists:
Кацярына Андрэева (Бахвалава): 222160 Беларусь, г. Жодзіна, вул. Савецкая, д. 22а / Katsyaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava): Savetskaya Street 22a, Zhodzina, 222160 Belarus
Дарʼя Чульцова: 222160 Беларусь, г. Жодзіна, вул. Савецкая, д. 22а / Darya Chultsova: Savetskaya Street 22a, Zhodzina, 222160 Belarus
Кацярына Барысевіч: Беларусь, 220030 г. Менск, вул. Валадарскага, д. 2. СІЗА № 1 / Katsyaryna Barysevich: Detention facility Nr 1, Valadarski Street 2, Minsk, 220030 Belarus
Don’t forget to enclose an empty envelope so that the girls could respond to your letter. Thank you for your unindifference!
Belsat.eu