Hrodna: detention of journalist Ivan Roman

On 10 December in Hrodna the police detained independent journalist Ivan Roman and guarded him to Leninski district police department. The detention took place while he was implementing his professional duties at an action of the local human rights activists, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The journalist showed to the policemen his badge, but it did not stop them.

‘Today in the morning human rights defenders and civil activists held an action: they walked along the streets of Hrodna and handed out Human Rights Declarations and small paper flags with the inscription ‘60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. I was taking interviews and making photos. Riot policemen came up to me in Zhyliber Park and detained me,’ said I.Roman.

According to the journalist, the policemen put down his passport data. He refused to give any explanations to them.