European Economic
and Social Committee
Siarhei Satsuk.jpg
Journalist Siarhei Satsuk is one of the most famous Belarusian investigators. Over the past two decades, he has managed to change professions from excavator operator to reporter, write several science fiction novels, build a house, raise a daughter and become a grandfather. Sergei is an investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of the Belarusian online publication "Ejednevnik" (EJ.BY).
He was detained on 8 December 2021. His home was searched and he himself was interrogated by the Investigative Committee. After being interrogated in relation to an old case under Article 430 of the Criminal Code ("taking bribes"), Siarhei Satsuk was taken into custody and placed in the pre-trial detention centre in Minsk.
Earlier, on 25 March 2020, Siarhei Satsuk had already been detained in the context of the same case. On 26 March2020, he was taken into custody. On 26 and 27 March, searches were carried out at the office of "Ejednevnik" and at the journalist's home. Following the arrest and detention of Siarhei Satsuk, human rights organisations adopted a Statement, in which the journalist's detention and imprisonment in the context of the preliminary investigation stage of a criminal case were recognised as disproportionate and excessive measures. This was considered as politically motivated persecution of the journalist, aimed at forcing him to stop or change his activities in relation to disseminating information on corruption. The statement included the demand of Siarhei Satsuk's immediate release from custody. On 4 April 2020, the Prosecutor General of Belarus revoked the decision on Siarhei Satsuk's imprisonment.
Siarhei poses outside his house two days after his first release in his case. 6 April 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
He was detained on 8 December 2021. His home was searched and he himself was interrogated by the Investigative Committee. After being interrogated in relation to an old case under Article 430 of the Criminal Code ("taking bribes"), Siarhei Satsuk was taken into custody and placed in the pre-trial detention centre in Minsk.
Earlier, on 25 March 2020, Siarhei Satsuk had already been detained in the context of the same case. On 26 March2020, he was taken into custody. On 26 and 27 March, searches were carried out at the office of "Ejednevnik" and at the journalist's home. Following the arrest and detention of Siarhei Satsuk, human rights organisations adopted a Statement, in which the journalist's detention and imprisonment in the context of the preliminary investigation stage of a criminal case were recognised as disproportionate and excessive measures. This was considered as politically motivated persecution of the journalist, aimed at forcing him to stop or change his activities in relation to disseminating information on corruption. The statement included the demand of Siarhei Satsuk's immediate release from custody. On 4 April 2020, the Prosecutor General of Belarus revoked the decision on Siarhei Satsuk's imprisonment.
Siarhei poses outside his house two days after his first release in his case. 6 April 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.