Photojournalist Uladzimir Hrydzin detained in Minsk

The journalist was detained at the trial against Dzianis Zamiatalin.

Photojournalist Uladzimir Hrydzin was detained on March 4 in Minsk's Zavadski district court at the trial against Dzianis Zamiatalin, the son of former Lukashenka's ideologist Uladzimir Zamiatalin. BelaPAN learned it from Radio Svaboda's correspondent Aleh Hruzdzilovich, who also attended the trial.

“Hrydzin was detained after he entered the courtroom and took several photos,” Hruzdzilovich said. “I didn't have time to talk to him, but I said policemen telling him that taking photos in the courtroom without permission of the court was forbidden. But he took photos before the trial began.”

According to Hruzdzilovich, Hrydzin was taken out of the building. “I don't know where he was taken,” he said. The journalist was taken to the Frunzenski District Police Department. There he was kept for 1.5 hours and was released after the police checked his documents and images on his camera.

Uladzimir Zamiatalin worked at Aliaksandr Lukashenka's Administration since 1995 as the head of the main department for political information and then as the deputy head of the administration. He was appointed chairman of the State Press Committee in 1997 and later deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers responsible for culture, education, religion and ethnic groups.

He was the first deputy head of Lukashenka's administration from 16 June 2000 to 12 September 2001.

He headed the republican commission on registration (re-registration) of public organisations. On March 27, 2001, Aliaksandr Lukashenka approved a new composition of the commission, and Zamiatalin was replaced by first deputy head of the president's administration Stanislau Kniazeu.

He became the director of Belarusfilm national film studio in December 2006.