#PressFreedom
Press control in #Belarus: Press Cards of Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse Revoked; Award-winning Swedish Journalist Expelled
The anti-govenment demonstrations in Belarus continued. There were many protests and human chains formed in various districts. However, the local government started to restrict news reporters last week, detaining almost 50 reporters who worked at the demonstration site. The reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, AFP Reuters and other foreign media have their press cards cancelled.
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (#BAJ), the local police detained nearly 50 journalists on 27 August 2020, including many well-known foreign media. Their documents were checked and four of them were detained for refusing to hand over their smartphones for inspection. They were accused of organizing illegal demonstrations and must be detained until they are brought to the court. Meanwhile, Swedish journalist, Paul Hansen, who won the World Press Photo Contest Award was deported. He was banned from entering the country for five years.
Until yesterday, the actions of local government which limited news reporting were expanded. At least 17 people’s press cards were cancelled, including the reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, AFP Reuters, BBC and US Congress-funded Radio Liberty. The Radio France International (#RFI) quoted Anatoly Glaz, an official of the Belarusian Ministry of foreign Affairs, that the relevant decision was made in response to anti-terrorism and anti-extremist forces.
BBC and the Associated Press issued a statement of condemnation. The US embassy in the local area also issued a statement, showing concerns that journalists are being unfairly targeted. Attempts on supressing freedom of press, opposition voices and detaining citizens who exercise freedom of assembly and speech were not supported. Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Minister, also condemned the authorities for suppressing press freedom and demanded to stop targeting journalists.
The anti-government demonstrations in Belarus started last month. Citizens protested for the president election result and police brutality. They claimed that the president, Alexander Lukashenko, had manipulated the election. Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said that they have reserved police force to intervene for the situation in Belarus when necessary, but there is no such need as of now.
Source: Stand News #Aug30
#BelarusianAssociationJournalists #AFP #Reuters #AP #MediaControl
Press control in #Belarus: Press Cards of Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse Revoked; Award-winning Swedish Journalist Expelled
The anti-govenment demonstrations in Belarus continued. There were many protests and human chains formed in various districts. However, the local government started to restrict news reporters last week, detaining almost 50 reporters who worked at the demonstration site. The reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, AFP Reuters and other foreign media have their press cards cancelled.
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (#BAJ), the local police detained nearly 50 journalists on 27 August 2020, including many well-known foreign media. Their documents were checked and four of them were detained for refusing to hand over their smartphones for inspection. They were accused of organizing illegal demonstrations and must be detained until they are brought to the court. Meanwhile, Swedish journalist, Paul Hansen, who won the World Press Photo Contest Award was deported. He was banned from entering the country for five years.
Until yesterday, the actions of local government which limited news reporting were expanded. At least 17 people’s press cards were cancelled, including the reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, AFP Reuters, BBC and US Congress-funded Radio Liberty. The Radio France International (#RFI) quoted Anatoly Glaz, an official of the Belarusian Ministry of foreign Affairs, that the relevant decision was made in response to anti-terrorism and anti-extremist forces.
BBC and the Associated Press issued a statement of condemnation. The US embassy in the local area also issued a statement, showing concerns that journalists are being unfairly targeted. Attempts on supressing freedom of press, opposition voices and detaining citizens who exercise freedom of assembly and speech were not supported. Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Minister, also condemned the authorities for suppressing press freedom and demanded to stop targeting journalists.
The anti-government demonstrations in Belarus started last month. Citizens protested for the president election result and police brutality. They claimed that the president, Alexander Lukashenko, had manipulated the election. Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said that they have reserved police force to intervene for the situation in Belarus when necessary, but there is no such need as of now.
Source: Stand News #Aug30
#BelarusianAssociationJournalists #AFP #Reuters #AP #MediaControl
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