International Press Institute Demanded From Belarusian Authorities To Release Journalists Immediately
- 14.05.2020, 8:46
The European Union also expects the release of independent media employees.
The International Press Institute (headquarters in Vienna) demanded from the Belarusian authorities to release journalists Ales Asiptsou, Dzmitry Lupach, Mikhail Arshynski and Aliaksandr Burakou, who had covered the opposition rallies but arrested for "participating in unsanctioned events," naviny.by reports.
"Put the media workers, covering the activities of the opposition activists, behind bars is above all cynicism, - IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen says. - These journalists are put behind bars and exposed to the risk of being infected [COVID-19] because they are simply doing their job. We call on the authorities to release them immediately. A corresponding statement has been published on the IPI website.
The IPI notes that a wave of journalists' detentions began after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoked the accreditation of two Russian Channel One employees on May 7. The authorities reasoned this decision by saying that they "did not accurately cover" the situation with COVID-19 in Belarus. In this connection, the IPI demands from the Belarusian authorities "to stop using the crisis in the field of health care in order to prevent critical reporting about the government".
International organization Reporters without Borders, OSCE, and the Belarusian Association of Journalists have also demanded release of the arrested journalists, who covered rallies in support of Homel video blogger Siarhei Tikhanouski. The European Union is waiting for the release of those arrested.