Belarusian photographer Alexander Shishko was detained on April 11 at Minsk airport following his return from Tbilisi. The news was reported by the Dissidentby project and confirmed by human rights activist Roman Kislyak.
According to Kislyak, Shishko had been living in Tbilisi since 2022 and likely underestimated the risk of detention upon his return. Following Freedom Day (Dzyen Voli) 2024, his name appeared in materials published by Belarusian state propagandists, and police searches related to the matter were conducted within Belarus.
Freedom Day (March 25) commemorates the 1918 proclamation of independence of the Belarusian People’s Republic and serves as a symbol for the country’s opposition movement.
Belarusian authorities regularly warn of potential criminal prosecution for participating in demonstrations abroad. According to human rights groups, border detentions and interrogations of citizens returning to the country have been a persistent practice for several years.
