Former RFE/RL photographer detained in Minsk on unspecified charges

Former RFE/RL photographer Uladz Hrydzin

His family says a photographer who worked for RFE/RL's Belarus service has been arrested and taken to pretrial detention in Minsk.

Earlier on Sunday, RFE/RL learned that the photographer Uladz Hrydzin had been taken to Akrestsina detention center and that he would go on trial on Monday.

According to The Associated Press, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAZh) also reported that police arrested Hrydzin.

Hrydzin stopped communicating with his relatives on Friday, according to those relatives who went to his house on Sunday and found evidence that it'd been searched. His laptop and camera were missing, as well as items scattered on the floor.

Following that, his relatives learned he'd been transferred to Akrestsina, where many inmates say they've been tortured.

Hrydzin was a photo correspondent for RFE/RL's Belarus service until August 29, 2020, when his accreditation was revoked. He has since worked as a freelancer.

According to BAZh, Hrydzin was taken to pretrial detention in Minsk, but the facility wasn't named. AP reports that no information was available on charges against him and his lawyer had not been able to meet with him.

Hrydzin was detained for 11 days for filming a protest that arose after a disputed presidential election in 2020.

Authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in the election, which was deemed rigged by the opposition and many Western governments.

Hrydzin was the winner of the Belarus Press Photo contest, and his photos were published by international agencies and mass media.

*This article contains information sourced from VOA.