Belarusian MFA: riot militia learnt in Germany how to block work of journalists

Militia worked out the measures that will change the form of work with journalists at mass rallies.

Deputy minister of internal affairs of internal affairs of Belarus Yauhen Paludzen told journalists about this.

“The press and militia will work in such a way in the nearest time: there will be press-officers, militiamen in blue vests at mass events. Journalists will be able to refer them on all questions,” Interfax quotes Paludzen.

He noted that representatives of opposition movement “violated the law on mass events several times”. “Nevertheless, the Ministry of Internal Affairs took measures not to hinder work of journalists,” he added.

The deputy interior minister emphasized that the Belarusian militia uses the experience of its German colleagues when working out a complex of measures.

“We have taken the experience of German police, who work at street actions of right, left and green movements. The press can’t film faces of policemen and demonstrators. Only wide shots are allowed. I think we should use this experience,” he said.

The deputy minister regrets this wasn’t used in Belarus before. He added that besides press-officers in blue vests, militiamen in red vests will work at rallies. They will negotiate with participants of unauthorized street actions and warn them about responsibility for violation of the rules of holding mass events.

“These measures will be introduced in the nearest time. I have already seen these vests. We also will inform representatives of mass media and public about our further activity in this sphere,” Paludzen said.

As www.charter97.org has earlier reported, during the disband of the peaceful rally in Minsk on October 16 riot militiamen 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 militiamen, 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!

“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.