French Tourist Jailed in Belarus for Photographing Train

A retired French tourist, Boris, has been detained in Belarus for three months after taking a photo of a train while on holiday with his wife in April 2026. The 60-year-old railway enthusiast was arrested after being followed and filmed by a drone, according to Belarusian outlet Nasha Niva. His family has received no official documents about his detention, location, or access to a lawyer. Boris, a former French Army officer and engineer, has published articles for railway magazines. His cousin Julien Rizet has appealed to the Elysee Palace, French ministries, and NGOs, receiving only acknowledgments. This case follows similar incidents: Japanese tourist Kiy Terui was jailed for 200 days in December 2024 for photographing trains, and Masatoshi Nakanishi was sentenced to seven years in March 2025 for photographing military sites near the Ukraine border, though released in December 2025. The family hopes publicity will secure Boris's release.