Statement on the Searches of Media Offices and Detentions of Journalists

The news­rooms of Belarus largest web por­tal, the only inde­pen­dent news agency, and Navu­ka news­pa­per are being searched. Jour­nal­ists can not access their work­ing places, and that cre­ates obsta­cles in the work of Tut.by and Bela­PAN.

We con­sid­er that a fla­grant vio­la­tion of free­dom of expres­sion and media free­dom. In any case, the actions of law enforce­ment agen­cies seem exces­sive. Inves­ti­ga­tion of crim­i­nal cas­es should not affect the free­dom and pro­fes­sion­al activ­i­ties of the media. We are espe­cial­ly con­cerned by per­se­cu­tion of the media on the back­ground of sys­tem­at­ic vio­la­tions of the right to dis­sem­i­nate infor­ma­tion and intim­i­da­tion of jour­nal­ists through pros­e­cu­tion of Bela­PAN founder Alexan­der Lipai and Bel­sat TV jour­nal­ists.

We call for the imme­di­ate release of the detainees and ensur­ing access of oth­er Tut.by and Bela­PAN to their work­ing places.

Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Human Rights Cen­ter Vias­na

Belaru­sian PEN Cen­tre

Office for the rights of peo­ple with dis­abil­i­ties

Minsk police raid offices of Tut.by portal, news agency BelaPAN