Chairman of Slonim district council expels journalist from meeting with local residents

An official didn't agree to speak to people in the presence of an independent journalist.

The village of Pasinichy (Slonim district) belongs to the Azhinovichy rural council, but the district authorities decided to annex it to the Aziarnitsa council. Pasinichy is within walking distance from Azhinavichy and the council office is only three kilometres from the village. If Pasinichy is attached to the Aziarnutsy council, people will have to go 17 km to the council office. Excited villagers, most of them pensioners, took to streets demanding to leave the village in the current rural council, Viasna human rights centre reports.

The village residents contacted Gazeta Slonimskaya and invited a journalist to visit their meeting with officials.

Journalist Uladzimir Shumel came to Pasinichy on the appointed day. Chairman of the Slonim district council Siarhei Rahozik (in the picture) appeared later and said Gazeta Slonimskaya's journalist had to leave the site or the officials would not “sort out the situation”.

The journalist had to leave the meeting, but Rahozik failed to solve the problem of Pasinichy residents. They will have to go the the council office 17 kilometres from the village.