In Minsk, Belarus, several journalists disappeared, others were injured

In Belarus, during the mass protests after the presidential elections, several journalists went missing, Radio Liberty reports.

In particular, for over 24 hours people are unable to contact the journalist of "Meduza" Maksym Solopov. He was detained in Minsk in the evening of August 9, and, according to the colleagues, was severely beaten. His current location is unknown. Advocates assume that Solopov is in detainment facility in Zhodyno. There is no information from law enforcement agencies of Belarus about him.

Also, since August 10, photojournalist of “Russua today” Illia Pitalev went missing. At night of August 10, editor-in-chief of Belarus media outlet “Nasha Niva” Yegor Martynovych was detained. He managed to send SOS signal to his colleagues. After that, nothing was heard from him.

On Monday, August 10, correspondent of “Nasha Niva” Nataliya Lybnevska, who was covering protests in Minsk, was injured with rubber bullet to her knee. The journalist had to be hospitalized.

“МБХ media” reports that Aleksander Skrilnikov, their correspondent, was injured by a flash-bang grenade.

As IMI reported before, on August 10 “Belarus association of journalists” announced that the presidential elections campaign in 2020 took place under unprecedented pressure against journalists.

IMI prepared a list of violations of freedom of press and the rights of journalists that took place on the voting day in Belarus and on August 10.