Border guards seize car of Maryna Koktysh, ‘Narodnaya Volia’ journalist

The car Maryna Koktysh bought in Lithuania was seized and sent for expert evaluation. The journalist detained at Kamenny Loh border crossing point at 2:30 p.m. on 12 March. The woman was driving the car from Lithuania. The Belarusian border guards told the journalist the car was on the international wanted list. The journalist told RFE/RL that Lithuania denies this information. Koktysh went on hunger strike protesting against actions of customs officers.

The journalist was able to return to Minsk on Saturday. Belarusian customs officers gave her a vehicle to go home. The car, bought by Koktysh in Lithuania, was driven to the Ashmiany customs office for an experts’ examination.

Maryna Koktysh supposes the detention is connected with her professional activity. On 17 February, officers of the Leninski district police department searched the journalist’s working place and seized a computer case. The policemen had a warrant signed by the Homel prosecutor Valiantsina Shayeva and related to the case of denigration of honor and dignity of Ivan Korzh, former head of the KGB department of the Homel oblast. Bear in mind that Sviatlana Kalinkina, deputy editor of Narodnaya Volia was seized her PC during the search in the apartment.

Andrei Sannikau, leader of the European Belarus civil campaign, his wife Iryna Khalip, a well-known journalist, and the European Belarus coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka were questioned by police. On 5 March, Andrei Sannikau and Iryna Khalip were seized a computer on the Belarusian-Lithuania border.