Police in Belarus detained the father of self-exiled Belarusian writer Sasha Filipenka without explanation after searching his apartment on November 9. Filipenka wrote on Facebook that police told his mother: "Thank your son for this.... It is obvious that they are putting pressure on me and want me to stop talking to the European media," Filipenka's Facebook post said. The 39-year-old writer gained prominence for several books in Russian, for which he received literary prizes. He fled Belarus after he took part in anti-government protests in 2020. He also publicly condemned Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Belarusian Police Detain Self-Exiled Writer's Father
Award-winning Belarusian writer Sasha Filipenka (file photo)