Action of solidarity with journalists in Brest

Journalists from Brest held a picket of solidarity with freelance journalists who face prosecution for working without accreditation.

The event was held as part of the campaign “Stand up for journalism” organised annually on November 5 on the initiative of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and supported by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), Viasna human rights centre reports.

Aleh Suprunyuk, the head of the BAJ's Brest branch, says it was decided this year to focus on the problem of freelancers. The local BAJ department has many young freelance journalists who suffer from pressure from the authorities, inducing administrative responsibility for cooperating with foreign media without accreditation (article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

Two freelancers from Brest – Yauhen Skrabets and Maksim Khliabets – received warnings from a prosecutor this year. Alina Litvinchuk was recently accused of violating article 22.9.