Andrei Skurko, Who Was Transferred to the Medical Unit of SIZO No. 1, Was Found to Have Structural Changes in the Lungs

The cell where the journalist was kept is now in quarantine.

The former editor-in-chief of the newspaper Nasha Niva (2006-2017), head of the advertising and marketing department of NN, Andrei Skurko, who is in custody, was taken to the medical unit of pretrial detention center No. 1 in Minsk with "structural changes in the lungs" and suspected covid, the editorial office reports.

The cell where Skurko was kept is now in quarantine. The editors know that, upon arrival from the IVS to the pre-trial detention center, an X-ray revealed a spot in the lungs of Skurko. According to Radio Svaboda, journalist Aleh Gruzdzilovich, who was in prison with Skurko and was released this morning, on July 18, he had a fever, started coughing, and was given paracetamol.

Skurko has insulin-dependent diabetes, and he must be injected four times a day. During the 13 days spent in the temporary detention facility in the 1st lane of Akrestsin Street, he did not receive the necessary dietary food and parcels.

Yahor Martsinovich, editor-in-chief of the Nasha Niva website, was also transferred to SIZO No. 1.

On July 8, searches were carried out in the editorial office of NN, accounting and at the house of Skurko, Martsinovich, editor-in-chief of the magazine Nasha Historyja, Andrei Dynko, and chief accountant Volha Rakovich. Subsequently, all four were detained on suspicion of committing a crime under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them). Searches were carried out under this and 293rd (riots) articles.

Volha Rakovich was released on July 16.

On July 18, 10 days after the arrest, Martsinovich, Skurko, and Dynko were detained again - this time, for three days as suspects of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 216 of the Criminal Code (causing property damage without signs of theft). Three days later, Dynko was released on a pledge to appear, Martsinovich and Skurko remained in custody.