Security services keep harassing journalist Karpenka

Lida independent journalist Siarhei Karpenka is likely to be charged with abusing policemen.

This is another episode in a series of facts of harassment used by the law enforcement agencies against the BelSat TV Channel reporter.

On 22 June, he was detained and beaten by the police during a “silent protest” in Lida. The beating was followed by a severe psychological pressure on the journalist and his wife. After Siarhei Karpenka appealed the detention, local prosecutor threatened him with criminal prosecution. Following a series of administrative trials, the journalist was eventually acquitted by Lida District Court in July.

Siarhei Karpenka says he has been closely watched; his apartment has been repeatedly visited by the police, who questioned his relatives. On 14 October he was forced to give his fingerprints. The journalist has also been subjected to arbitrary detentions by the road police. Apart from that, the police tried to detain Mr. Karpenka as he was shooting stories for BelSat, including two episodes on 6 and 8 October.