BAJ Receives Answer to Its Inquiry Concerning Illegal Detention of Journalists

Source: www.charter97.org

The Belarusian Association of Journalists has received a letter from the internal affairs department of Mahiliou Regional Executive Committee concerning the investigation of the arrest of journalists in Babruisk on 31 August. According to the letter, the internal affairs department of Mahiliou REC has carried out a check based on an address from the prosecutor’s office of Leninski district of Babruisk. As a result, a fact of illegal arrest of journalists performing their professional duty on 31 August has not been found.

It’s worth mentioning that Belarusian Association of Journalists addressed the regional and district leadership of internal affairs agencies with a demand to bring to account policemen who had violated journalists’ rights and the Belarusian legislation on mass media during the protest rally performed by the deputy of Babruisk Soviet Ales Chyhir. The opposition activist had chained himself to a lamppost with handcuffs. In this way the deputy protested against his illegal dismissal from work.