Journalist with camera banned from entering district executive committee in Hlybokaye

A police officer told him entering the building with a professional camera was forbidden.

Zmitser Lupach, an independent journalist and sole proprietor, was going to visit the economic department to hand in documents regarding his activity as a sole proprietor. He had a Nikon camera in his bag, which raises questions from a policeman on duty, Viasna human rights centre writes.

“I entered the administrative building with a small bag. The policeman at the entrance asked to show me the bag. He saw a camera and said that entering the district executive committee with a 'professional camera' was forbidden. He said he had an order from the office manager of the committee. I had to give my bag to my friend and go upstairs with my documents,” Zmitser Lupach says.

He decided to talk to the office manager and ask why the ban on cameras was imposed in the building where, by the way, a number of organisations and the local register office are situated.

“What should I do if I want to be a photographer at a wedding? I am a sole proprietor, and photographing is one of my activities. I wanted to talk to office manager Inna Pachopka about it, but she was at a meeting. I was calling her for two hours until the end of working hours, but no one answered the phone,” Lupach said.

He visited the website of the district executive committee and found a “helpline for social and common problems”. He dialed the number but received an answer that he called the committee's reception desk and they never heard about the ban on “professional cameras”. Lupach was advised to contact the office manager, whose order was mentioned by the policeman.

Zmitser Lupach sent an official request to the executive committee. He asked what cameras are considered to be “professional” and why such extraordinary safety measures were taken. He does not rule out that the ban exists only for him, because officials of the district executive committee know him as an independent journalist and active citizen.