Four computers were confiscated from the journalist Alies Burakou
Seven police officers led by Major Uladzimir Puhacheu broke into the apartment of the independent journalist Ales Burakou (senior) today, 16 September.
Policemen cheated and asked a certain woman to ring the doorbell, she said that she is an employee of the housing office. Once Ales Burakou opened the door, he was nearly knocked down by the police.
They made a search into the apartment and made a video recording of all the actions. They said that Burakou is suspected in violation of the law “On mass media” as allegedly collaborating with the German radio "Deutsche Welle" without an appropriate accreditation. The police used as evidence the publications on the radio signed by Alies Burakou.
After the reporter’s apartment had been searched, police officers went to do a search at the apartment of Alies’ parents, where they also confiscated computers. As a result, two journalist’s PCs and two laptops were confiscated for expert examination. They promised to return the computers in 1-2 weeks, once examination is completed.
Alies Burakou notes that he has only protocol of inspection of a place of an administrative violation, which police gave to him. But he hasn’t protocol of computers’ confiscation.
For further proceedings freelance journalist is summoned to appear in the Leninsky police department on 14-00 p.m.
It should be noticed that Burakou was already rendered an official caution for his work on foreign media without accreditation. Then it was "Belsat" TV channel.