"She Went to All the Rallies, This Is Love for Belarus"

• 9.02.2021, 14:06

The story of Belsat journalist Darya Chultsova.

Today, a trial began against the journalists Darya Chultsova and Katsiaryna Andreeva. They are accused of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order. The girls were detained last year on November 15 when they were streaming from the Square of Changes. All her life, 23-year-old Darya went into journalism, and now she suffers for it, Belsat reports.

Darya Chultsova was born and spent her childhood in Shklou. Her mother Natallia Tserabilenka says that her daughter is very kind and purposeful; she has had many interests since childhood.

"As a child, Darya was very fond of drawing, even went to an art school. It was her kind of special world - drawing. Subsequently, she ordered to buy her a guitar and began to learn to play the guitar. And most of all, Dasha loved to write. She always had some kind of notebook with her, and she wrote, wrote, wrote," recalls Natallia Tserabilenka.

At first, Natallia did not even know what Dasha's desire to write would lead to. And when her daughter first spoke openly about her desire to be a journalist, they took it as a joke at home. In the 11th grade, Dasha reiterated her intention to go into journalism. Then the family got really worried. They dissuaded Dasha even at the stage of submitting documents to the university. But it was all in vain; it did not stop Dasha.

"She seems to be listening to me, listening, but she still does it in her own way. And to convince her of something is very difficult. She has such a position that she is her own mistress. Exactly, Dasha is very purposeful. And now people write to me about her that I have raised an incredible daughter," says Natallia.

Dasha's childhood friend Milana Minchukova recalls that Dasha always stood out for her curiosity about everything around her.

"We can say that Dasha is a researcher. It combines such traits as calmness and observation, and at the same time, curiosity about the most different areas of life. She was always very fond of listening, reading, and drawing. And now the moment came when these inclinations determined her profession," says Milana.

How to apply for the journalism department at the Kuliashou Mahiliou State University, Dasha told her mother: "If not to journalism, then I will not go anywhere at all." So she began to study journalism.

At the university, Dasha, together with her fellow students, prepared samizdat. Even then, the girl faced the question of what role she wants to play and where to work next. It took Dasha time and practical experience to decide.

"Together with Dasha, we started making stories for the project "Mahiliou. Online." It was the coolest time because we just had a mission - to show the social problems of Mahiliou. And we did it. At that time, I saw that Dasha had a great interest and talent not only as a journalist who writes but also as a cameraman," says Dasha's classmate Krystsina Barysava.

Dasha and Krystsina showed various communal problems in Mahiliou. They also often interviewed the townspeople on current topics. And, of course, they touched on politics.

"If we did something, we did it honestly. Dasha could spend at least half a day editing the video, at least a day - as long as it takes to make it beautiful. At the same time, she sympathized with people and insisted on showing everything exactly the way it really is," explains Krystsina Barysava.

Since 2019, Dasha began to cooperate with the Belsat TV channel. As a journalist, she worked in tandem with cameraman Mikhail Arshynski.

"We traveled to different cities of the Mahiliou region, filmed reports about the problems of ordinary people. We showed how a person's life changes when he is faced with this bureaucratic system," says Mikhail Arshynski about his work with Dasha Chultsova.

Mikhail, already an experienced journalist, taught Dasha to be universal in her profession. To write the text, shoot, and edit the video equally well.

Repressions against Dasha for her journalistic activities began in Mahiliou. Twice, the Mahiliou courts punished Dasha with a fine under Part 2 of Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code for cooperation with Belsat. But this did not alienate the girl from the profession.

"Dasha is one of those people who develop consciously and without fear, and through these tests, she becomes a professional. I see that in a very short time, Dasha has greatly improved her professional level. And I'm just sure that she will come out and continue her path in journalism," says Mikhail Arshynski.

In Mahiliou, Dasha worked only while she was studying at the university. After receiving her diploma in September 2020, Dasha moved to work in Minsk. Here she began to try herself again as a videographer. After moving, she was often detained for her journalistic activities.

"In this regard, Dasha is a real patriot of Belarus. After all, if she went to all these rallies, then this is precisely the love for Belarus. She understood what a risk it was for a journalist, but she went anyway. Even the day before the November 15 stream, I asked her if she was afraid. And Dasha said that only she and Katsia could go and do this work. And they went," Krystsina recalls.

Before the stream from the Square of Changes on November 15, Dasha and Katsia understood well that all journalists are now a target. That this state is afraid of streams most of all. And still, they went - to do their job, to show people the truth. Almost 75 thousand people watched the stream, for which the journalists were jailed and are now being tried.

"They think they can do anything. If they want to imprison, they do it. And if there is no case - they come up with a case. I believe that Katsia and Dasha are in prison for nothing. They are not to blame; they were just doing their job. They did not gather anyone there and did not call on anything," reflects Natallia, Dasha's mother.

Natallia says that her daughter's trial is indicative. In her opinion, in this way, they want to intimidate other journalists so that they do not stream, go to rallies and protests.

"Have they thought about young people? There are already many crippled destinies. For them, people are not important: one more, one less," says Natallia.

And yet, Natallia and all relatives, friends, and colleagues of Dasha and Katsia go to court with the hope that this absurdity is about to end. It will definitely end. And the girls will be released and continue to pursue their favorite profession.