Journalist Okay Deprem held in detention in Belarus without explanation

Journalist Okay Deprem, who lives in Russia and has been a member of the Journalists' Union for four years, has traveled to Belarus many times in the past.

According to a report by Oda TV, Deprem traveled to Belarus again upon invitation ahead of the elections to be held at the beginning of 2025. During this period, he gave interviews to state channels and private media organizations and participated in television programs.

However, an unexpected situation occurred at the beginning of September. Deprem was detained without any official notification, with authorities stating, "you do not have a residence permit in the country." He was held without any charges being brought against him.

It was reported that the journalist, who was held in detention in Belarus for ten days, was kept under difficult conditions. After his release, he shared his experiences with the public.

Deprem was subjected to mistreatment from the moment he was detained. At the detention center where he was held, he was not allowed to request a lawyer, communicate with his family, or notify Turkey's Embassy in Minsk or the Russian agency he works for.

Deprem described this process as follows:

“I was only able to learn about it after I got out. First, my editor at the Russian agency I work for reached out to my family, whom he had met before, after he couldn't reach me for a few days. When they said, ‘we can't reach him either,’ the process began.”

BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES PROVIDED NO INFORMATION

During the detention process, Deprem's family, relatives, his agency in Russia, and the Turkish Embassy in Minsk tried to obtain information from Belarusian authorities. However, in the first few days, Belarusian officials denied that Deprem was in the country. Following increased pressure, the information that the journalist was in custody was later confirmed.

According to agreements between the two countries, citizens should not be held in detention for more than three days unless a serious crime is involved. However, Belarusian authorities held Deprem beyond this period and did not inform the Turkish Embassy.

Deprem used the following expression regarding this matter:

“They admitted it later. They explained their reason for not providing information by saying I entered with my Russian identity. Yet, I had my Turkish ID card in my wallet; they had emptied everything and photographed it, so it is impossible that they didn't know.”

DETENTION CONDITIONS

Deprem stated that there were people from many different countries in the center where he was held.

“Turkmen, Central Africans, North African Arabs… Those in the ward approached me with suspicion at first, saying, ‘You are a journalist, you are known, you shouldn't be here.’ After a few days, the sincerity deepened, and they started to tell their stories.”

Stating that the detention conditions were poor, Deprem said that many people were kept in limited spaces, there was not enough food, and there were hygiene problems.

“A Turkmen had been there for a year. He hadn't seen a lawyer for a year… I heard many stories, perhaps enough for another project.”

RELEASED AFTER TEN DAYS

The journalist was released after ten days. He was given his mobile phone for a short time and asked to purchase a plane ticket with his own means.

“I walked out in the detention center's slippers. I hadn't been able to shower or change my clothes for 10 days. They wanted me to go directly to the airport. I convinced them to stop by where I was staying so I could get my belongings. I packed my things into the suitcase while handcuffed, and we went to the airport.”

Despite his release, no official statement was made by the Belarusian authorities. Before leaving the country, Deprem had to pay a fine for the time he spent in detention.

“The officer with me said before I left, ‘Mr. Okay, we are a small and poor country, please do not harm our country.’”

The journalist stated that after returning to Turkey, he reported his experiences to official institutions and press organizations.

“Indirect messages are coming through various channels that they are sorry, but I have not been contacted directly. As for the reason, strange things are reaching my ears, again through indirect ways, suggesting that it wasn't the Belarusian state but other factions acting on their own. In the end, these don't matter.”

Deprem stated that after returning to Turkey, he spent time with his family and prepared written applications documenting what he had experienced.

“After what happened to me, the reactions of many journalists and press organizations in Russia have, frankly, made me a bit disillusioned with the places I have lived for years. I need to clear my head a little.”