[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
On October 5, Homiel company “Milkavita” and ‘Associated Press’ agency journalist Yuras Karmanau met in court.
This year, the ‘Associated Press’ agency published an investigative report stating that the radiation dose of the milk supplied to the “Milkavita” enterprises is exceeded several times. This is evidenced by the results of laboratory studies in Minsk Hygiene and Epidemiology Center.
After state structures intervened in the case, the Minsk Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology denied this information, saying that the amount of cesium-137 in the milk conformed to the standards, and the measurement on the strontium-90 was not carried out because of the small sample of milk. “Milkavita” representatives also called the article inaccurate.
The author of the scandalous article, Yuras Karmanau, claims that he has a certificate from the Minsk Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology. On the evening of April 26, the picture of the corresponding measurement report also appeared in the media.
“Immediately after the article publication, the Chernobyl Affairs Department intervened in the case. The officials were not interested in the results of the laboratory studies and the fact that the farm is located next to the “Stop” and “Radiation” signs. They were interested only in milk. After they conducted own tests it turned out that the milk was all right. On the basis of this study, “Milkavita” turned to court,” said Yuras Karmanau.
“Milkavita” demands that the journalist “refute false information”, not only on the “Associated Press” site, but in seven of Belarusian, Polish and Russian sites which reprinted the agency material.
Yuras Karmanau insists that the investigation was carried out by all the canons of the genre and is based on evidence. The article also presents laboratory data stating the exceeding concentration of radionuclides in the “Milkavita” milk as well as the opinion of the company representative.
“Firstly, the Chernobyl topic is a taboo in the Belarusian mass media, and the government does not want journalists to investigate what is happening in the Chernobyl zone. Secondly, for the Belarusian authorities milk has become white oil, which is exported to Russia. Over 90% of the ‘Milkavita’ products goes to Moscow. For the state it is important to maintain the reputation of our dairy producers,” says the author of a controversial investigation.
