Belarusian authorities Tuesday revoked permission for journalists from several foreign media outlets, including Reuters, AFP, The Associated Press and the BBC, ahead of a major anti-government march. Foreign Ministry press secretary Anatoly Glaz said the decision was made in the context of counter-terrorism and anti-extremist forces. The big international media are protesting against this restriction of press freedom.
The Belarusian authorities did not specify how many journalists had been stripped of their reporting rights. The U.S. embassy expressed deep concern about the current Lukashenko government’s blocking of websites, arbitrary arrests of citizens and restrictions on journalists. The US called on Minsk to exercise restraint.
A BBC spokesman said: “We condemn in the strongest terms the stifling of independent journalism.” Urged the Belarusian government to immediately restore journalists’ access.
Daisy Sindelar, director of radio Free Europe, said the authoritarian government’s strangling of independent media and relentless control of credible information in Belarus was a desperate step.
Lauren Easton, a spokeswoman for the Associated Press, was defiant. He demanded that the Belarusian government immediately restore journalists’ rights.
The government told journalists working for AGence France-Presse in Belarus that their qualifications had been revoked, news director 5Phil Chetwynd said Tuesday. No explanation was given, and we do not know the reason for the retraction. We call on the Belarusian authorities to restore journalists’ right to field interviews so that they can continue to provide independent and impartial coverage of events in Belarus.
On Aug. 5, Alexander Burakov, a Reporter for Deutsche Welle in Minsk, was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in prison. He was freed on August 15. He told Deutsche Welle that he was in good condition and had not been mistreated in prison. He also said his arrest was an attempt by the Belarusian authorities to prevent independent journalists from covering the country’s elections.
On 10 August, a reporter from the Belarusian branch of the satellite news agency was arrested and beaten while covering unrest in Minsk. Amnesty International accused the Belarusian authorities of using all kinds of cruel means to try to suppress the peaceful protest movement.
Lukashenko has claimed victory in the presidential election with 80% of the vote, and the opposition suspects he cheated. Street protests have continued in the past few days. According to official reports, two demonstrators have been killed and nearly 7,000 arrested in post-election protests. After their release, some said they had been tortured and beaten in prison.
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