Journalist Andrey Kuznechyk detained in Belarus

Andrey Kuznechyk | Image credits: www.usagm.gov

As the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka cracks down on independent media, a freelancer working for RFE/RL has been detained in Minsk.

Andrey Kuznechyk went for a bike ride on November 25 before returning shortly with four men in civilian clothes. They then searched their apartment without presenting any identification avoiding their two young children's rooms. The group of four then led Kuznechyk away without explaining the reason for his detention

There were protests in Belarus last year after Lukashenka won a presidential election that opponents and the West say was rigged. Lukashenka has been in power since 1994. The West has refused to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus' legitimate leader.

Over a thousand people were detained, and human rights activists report that more than 800 are in jail as political prisoners. Independent media and opposition social media channels have also been attacked.