The international journalist organization ‘Reporters Without Borders’ has called for the “immediate release” of journalist and blogger Zmitser Halko, who is accused of violence against the police officers.
In a special statement “Reporters Without Borders” noted that Halko became “an obvious victim of persecution”. The document notes that the persecution of a journalist “has signs of an act of revenge” for professional activity.
“There is no reason to keep this journalist in jail. We are calling for his immediate release and for the removal of all charges brought against him,” said spokesman for ‘Reporters Without Borders’.
Halko has been in jail for more than 2.5 months. The trial of journalist and blogger Zmitser Halko began on July 10.
The incident, which became a basis for criminal prosecution, took place in November 2017. The son of Halko celebrated his 15th birthday in an apartment in Minsk. There were also his friends at the party and Zmitser (there were about 17 people). In the evening, because of the noise, the neighbors called the police. According to the investigation, when the police entered the apartment, they had a conflict with Zmitser Halko, and the journalist allegedly used force against law enforcement. Halko himself refutes these charges.
Soon after that, Halko and his son left for Ukraine. However, on April 22, during the return to their homeland, Halko was detained on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border and put in jail.
belsat.eu
