Freelance journalist Yauhen Merkis who contributes to Belsat TV has been summoned to the prosecutor’s office in connection with the ‘inspection being carried out’.
The summons that provides no more information was not handed over to the reporter; the police forced his mother to receive it.
Moreover, Yauhen has been informed that on March 25 he should appear at Savetski police department as another will be drawn upon him protocol. It is unknown what the journalist will be charged with.
On March 23, Homiel court fined Yauhen Merkis for ‘illegal production and distribution of media products’, i.e. for covering the march of ‘non-parasites’ in Rahachou.
Yauhen Merkis livestreamed protest rallies in Vitsebsk and Homiel as well.
- Protests in Belarus: repression are live now
- Detentions live: Belarus police hunt for Belsat TV reporters (ENG video)
- Minsk: Plainclothes riot police abduct protesters from bus stop (video)
In February-March, there has been an eruption of protesting the so-called ‘parasite’ law in Belarus. About 200 Belarusians have been detained, fined, jailed after recent non-parasite marches. Last week, trials of participants were held in Minsk, Hrodna and Mahiliou. Most of them were accused of violating the order of holding mass events and disobedience to police officers’ demands. It should be noted that plainclothes policemen who refuse to show their IDs a or introduce themselves often beat people and prevented journalists from performing their professional duties.
Belarusian authorities are hunting for Belsat TV reporters (in English):
Threats, arrests, trials, fines: Massive attack on @Belsat_TV journos in March (ENG) #Belarus #Lukashenka @OSCE_RFoM @RSF_en #EU #Minsk pic.twitter.com/dXhAGekbuI
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) March 23, 2017
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