BBC television crew denied entry to Belarus

Journalists’ visas were annulled. No reasons were explained.

A BBC television crew planned to stay in Belarus from July 1 to July 8. The journalists obtained Belarusian visas, which later were annulled suddenly.

The journalists planned to stay in Belarus from July 1 to July 8 to cover the economic situation in your country and how it transforms people’s political views.

They received Belarusian visas without a problem, but two days later they were invited to the consular section of the Belarusian Embassy in London to annul their visas.

Belarusian MFA spokesman Andrei Savinykh said in a phone conversation that Belarus, as any other state, had the right not to comment on a denial to grant entry visas. He also noted that the denial was authorized not by the MFA, but by a “higher institution”, which he refused to name. Asked if the journalists can apply for visas later, he gave a negative respond, BBC journalist Nick Sturdee told charter97.org.