Belarusian police detained docent Alyaksey Semyantsou of the Belarusian State University on December 15 on unspecified charges amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent, independent media, and democratic institutions. Government-controlled Kniga GU BAZA Telegram channel published a video showing Semyantsou "confessing" to distributing "fake" news about developments in Belarus and taking part in mass rallies against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka in 2020. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.