Authorities file criminal charges against exiled writer Filipienka

February 14, Pozirk. Exiled Belarusian writer Saša Filipienka told novayagazeta.eu that Belarusian authorities filed criminal charges against him.

Police officers reportedly interrogated Filipienka’s father and showed him pictures of his son together with the president of Switzerland, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and the German culture minister. His smartphone was checked for opposition content.

“Dad signed a protocol that a criminal case has been opened against me,” Filipienka said. “We still don’t know the charges. We only know two other charges are about to be filed.” Police also searched his father’s home, he added.

In November, Filipienka’s father served 13 days in jail for reposting content labeled by the Belarusian government as extremist.

The writer is known for his support of the Belarusian protest movement in Europe following the 2020 postelection protests against vote-rigging and police brutality.

He kept calling for the release of Belaru­sian political prisoners and supporting Ukraine in his interviews with the Russian, German, English, Swedish, Dutch, Polish and French media outlets.

In July, his play, mocking undercover security agents hunting down protesters, premiered in Vilnius.