Journalist of the Year (2020) Award named after Dariusz Fikus (2021) "Honor of Journalism" (2021) Axel-Springer-Preis (2021) Courage in Journalism Award (2021) Preis für die Freiheit und Zukunft der Medien (2021) Free Media Award [en] (2021) Prix Europa [en] (2021)
She was born in Shklow. At an early age, she became interested in journalism. While at university, she worked for the website "Mogilev.Online". She studied in the Department of Journalism of Mogilev State A. Kuleshov University, finishing in 2020. In 2020, she moved to the TV channel Belsat and worked there as a journalist.[2]
Together with journalist Katsyaryna Andreeva, she became a person in a criminal case on organizing actions that attack public order.[3] Both showed the event of a cruel attack of the police at the place where Raman Bandarenka was beaten to death and the people stood to support the dead one live.[4][5] That took place at the "Square of Changes [en]" ("Ploscha Peramen") in Minsk on November 15, 2020.[6]
At a Minsk court meeting led by the judge Natalia Buguk on February 18, 2021, Chultsova and Andreeva were sentenced to serve two years in prison for pushing 2020 Belarusian protests.[10][11] The state prosecutor was Alina Kasyanchyk, the detective was Ihar Kurylovich.[12]
On April 23, 2021, Minsk City Court said no to a request to call off or change the sentence.[13]
On June 21, 2021, the Council of the European Union made a decision to put those responsible for the punishment of the journalists in the list of people and organizations sanctioned in relation to human rights violations in Belarus [en].[17] Judge Natalia Buguk was put in the EU blacklist for frequent decisions against journalists and protesters in connection to politics.[12] One example of such verdicts was named.[12] It was the guilty verdict against Katsyaryna Bahvalava (Andreeva) and Darya Chultsova.[12]Prosecutor number two Alina Kasyanchyk was put in the list for the prosecution of the journalists.[12] She was held responsible for indictment of both journalists for "making electronic motion pictures of quiet protests that were named 'conspiracy' and 'violation of public order'" without cause.[12]Detective Ihar Kurylovich was put in the list for the preparation of the criminal case against the journalists.[12] He had made the criminal case ready in connection to politics.[12]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva and Katsyaryna Barysevich on December 10, 2020, she was named Journalist of the Year (2020).[18][19][20]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva on March 10, 2021, she got the Award named after Dariusz Fikus by the Press Club Polska (Polish organization of journalists).[21]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva and Katsyaryna Barysevich, on April 9, 2021, she got the Ales Lipay (the person who made BelaPAN) Prize "Honor of Journalism."[22]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva on June 7, 2021, she got the Axel-Springer-Preis (a Germanaward for young journalists).[23]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva on July 29, 2021, she was named the owner of the Preis für die Freiheit und Zukunft der Medien (a Germanaward in the field of freedom of the press).[25][26]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva, Katsyaryna Barysevich, and others, on August 12, 2021, she got the Free Media Award [en].[27]
Together with Katsyaryna Andreeva on October 15, 2021, she got the Prix Europa [en] as the "European Journalist of 2021."[28][29]
«[They are] strong in spirit, have no doubt in the right [of them], supported by friends, colleagues and the people that they do not know at all – such Katya and Dasha will be put in books," Aksana Kolb, editor-in-chief of Novy Chas, wrote two or three days before their sentencing.[30]