July 31, Pozirk. Russia’s interior ministry has put Stanisłaŭ Ivaškievič, the founder and head of the Belarusian Investigative Center, and affiliated TV host Siarhiej Čały on its wanted list.
At least five journalists linked to the Center are now wanted in Russia, including former employees Alaksandar Jaraševič, Alaksiej Karpieka and Volha Alchimienka, Ivaškievič has told the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
The persecution may be linked to an earlier request from Belarusian authorities rather than any criminal charges filed in Russia, he added.
The Belarusian government has been harassing independent media since 2020. The Center was forced to leave Belarus in 2021 after police raided its Minsk office. Later, authorities branded it an extremist group.
Both Ivaškievič and Čały are award-winning journalists.
