Aliaksei Batsiukou (Аляксей Бацюкоў), born on 1 August 1977, journalist working for 6tv.by, former director of the Mahiliou (Mogilev/ Магілёў) History Museum (museumhm.by) and a video blogger (vlogger), allegedly has been missing since he was questioned by the police following the search of his house on 5 December 2023.
The state controlled TV channel Belarus 4 Mahiliou, part of the state Belteleradiocompany (Белтэлерадыёкампанія- Нацыянальная дзяржаўная тэлерадыёкампанія Рэспублікі Беларусь) broadcasted a report on 15 December 2023, illustrating Batsiukou’s brutal detention during a raid. The report accused him of allegedly editing an extremist formation and distributing funds intended for journalists’ salaries.
His detention is allegedly linked to a criminal case, and his whereabouts have remained unknown for nearly two weeks. In July and August of 2023, Batsiukou served an 11-day administrative detention period for distributing ‘extremist information products.’ Additionally, he received a fine in 2020 for participating in unauthorized public gatherings, which resulted in the non-renewal of his labor contract in January 2021, compelling him to leave his position at the Mahiliou History Museum. Subsequent to his departure, Batsiukou initiated his own YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakP1r0-8DE_Dvvb7WkTt1w), focusing on the history of Mahiliou.
South East Europe Media Organisation is alarmed about all what happened with Aliaksei Batsiukou.
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.
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