Search at Radio Racyja’s news office: computers seized (Photo)

• 3.05.2012, 12:05

On May 2 police visited flats situated near the Victory Square, where a parade of May 9 rehearsal is to be held.

Policemen visited the head office of Radio Racyja in Minsk at about 8.30 p.m., Radio Racyja informs.

The journalist, who was on duty in the office at that moment, opened the door. After the policemen saw logos of Radio Racyja, they called for reinforcement from the police department of Central district to be sent.

Reports were drawn up for confiscation of the computers in the office. There were three policemen in the flat, and several more were guarding near the entrance.

The journalist of Radio Racyja Henadz Barbarych who was there, was interrogated.

According to reports, as of 11 p.m. policemen left. As informed by the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Andrei Bastunets, who arrived to the scene, policemen drew up the report of examination, where they wrote that they seize computer equipment for examination. Reports about Henadz Barbarych’s arrest were not confirmed.

Yauhen Vapa, the chief of Radio Racyja, informs on the situation:

- Another attack against Radio Racyja journalists demonstrates that our radio is a source of independent information for Belarusian citizens. And the authorities fear independent information. We express gratitude to our journalists, who are undergoing persecution for executing their professional duty. It is possible that our broadcasting could be interrupted, it could be limited, but we continue to do our job. And more so in the context of the Word Press Freedom Day tomorrow. Today’s events demonstrate how the situation of the media stands in Belarus now. But we have been working and we are going to continue our work in the future.