Zhana Litvina: Direct prohibition to practice exists in Belarus

19.10.2009, 11:36

“On October 16 law-enforcers carried out unprecedented intrusion in work of journalists,” stated the chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, commenting on blocking of journalists’ work by riot policemen during disband of the solidarity rally in Minsk.

“It is a direct violation of Article 34 of the Law on Mass Media, which gives journalists a right to be present in the places of rallies and demonstrations, in the places where socially important events take place. It is a direct prohibition to practice. I recall the words of Interior Affairs Minister of Belarus Anatol Kulyashou who said not long ago, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of creation of the Information and PR department, that the Interior Affairs Ministry does not have closed topics and closed doors for journalists. Now he should be demanded an answer who had made an order to prevent journalists from working on October 16, and who executed that order,” stated the head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhana Litvina in an interview to www.charter97.org.

The BAJ head reminded that in the final report of the mission of international journalists’ organizations which visited Minsk recently, it was stated that journalists have a right to attend the places of mass events, and law-enforcers shouldn’t prevent them from exercising their professional duties. The report was created after the events of September 9 and 16, when riot policemen for the first time prevented journalists from covering the cruel crackdown of the rally.

Zhana Litvina called blocking of the work of journalists “know-how” of the today’s Belarusian law-enforcing agencies. “It is done not to make public the total lawlessness which is happening. Once again the fact of protest rallies and their crackdown is hushed,” the journalist noted.

“Earlier we addressed individually to the prosecutor general and Interior Minister, and now I think an open letter should be sent with a demand for an answer, who had given an illegal order and who executed it. These facts are to receive an international estimation from our partner organisations. I am sure that protests against interference in the work of Belarusian journalists will follow,” stated the chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

During the disband of the peaceful rally in Minsk on October 16 riot policemen thwarted work of journalists, which was the third time in this month.

While during the rallies on September 9 and 16 each journalist was accompanied by 2-3 persons, but this time mass media journalists were encircled by 5 riot policemen, who seized cameras and damaged equipment.

If we managed to make some photos and video footage of the outrage during dispersals on September 9 and 16, this time journalists were almost unable to film anything!