The Dutch Journalists Frightened by Sergeant with Shooting while Reporting from ‘Zakhad-2017’ Military Exercises
Journalists from a Dutch publication have visited Uladzimir Skrabatun, the Editor-in-chief of ‘Volnaye Hlybokaye’ newspaper, searching for more information about the ‘Zakhad-2017’ military exercises. The Editor got them acquainted with a local freelance reporter Zmitsier Lupach and asked the latter to accompany the guests in the town of Hlybokaye.
Illustrative photo: surfanon.net
The Dutch journalists wanted to experience all aspects of ordinary civil life during the military exercises in the district center. Also, they were interested in preparing a report for their newspaper. In particular, they wanted to pass a checkpoint, to inquire the military men about the conducted exercises. Despite the freelance reporter’s criticism, the guests expressed persistence and tried to pass one of main checkpoints with the armed police and military officers at Barok suburb of Hlybokaye together with their Belarusian guide on September 15, 2017.
The police representatives refused to talk to the Dutch reporters, since, allegedly, everything was kept in secrecy. Also, the police told them that the journalists weren’t permitted to film the location, since they didn’t have the press credentials from the Ministry of Defense.
The police proposed the journalists politely to pass the checkpoint immediately in either of directions.
All at once, a military person in the sergeant rank came out of a tent and started cursing at the journalists and frightening them with shooting.
As soon as the journalists tried to tell him something about their rights and the law, the military man started cursing even more severely and continued shaking his gun at them.
As soon as the Dutch media workers decided to pass the checkpoint and go to the city, the police searched the car and the sergeant raised a military barrier — a stick with the attached gear and let the car move forward. Upon arrival in Hlybokaye, the journalists tried to talk to the military or police officers who were involved in the exercises, but all in vain. They weren’t provided with any additional information at all.