Tsentralny district police department does not return equipment to journalists

• 17.01.2012, 13:17

The chiefs of the Tsentralny district police department broke their promise to Andrei Skurko, the editor-in-chief of “Nasha Niva” newspaper.

Paper’s journalist Tatsyana Haurykchyk and independent photographer Yulia Darashkevich have not been returned the equipment seized on December 19 during a performance by FEMEN, Salidarnasts reports.

We remind that police district chief Viktar Radzevich and deputy chief Andrei Marozau promised Andrei Skurko they would give back photo- and video equipment to the reporters during last week.

“One just needs to remove a flash card to delete photos,” Yulia Darashkevich says. “I do not understand why they need a camera, an expensive lens and a netbook. I suppose it is done to prevent me from photographing.”

Yulia Darashkevich and Tatsyana Haurylchyk have been remaining on enforced leave since their equipment was seized.

Andrei Skurko plans to appeal the chief of the Tsentralny district police department this week.

“They have no grounds not to return the equipment,” “Nasha Niva” editor thinks. ”We will go to a prosecutor’s office if they do not return it.”

Journalists’ professional equipment was seized as they were filming a performance by FEMEN in front of the KGB headquarters in Minsk. The reporters spent ten hours in KGB and in a police department. The journalists were not given an opportunity to make a phone call to their families and a lawyer.