Riot policemen to become to journalists? :: Charter'97 :: News

Representatives of mass media are not prohibited to be in the places of holding both sanctioned and unsanctioned actions, reads the letter of April 9 of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Belarus received by the Belarusian Association of Journalists as an answer to their written demand to stick to the Law on Press.

While enforcing order during mass protests policemen’s actions are not aimed at infringement or violation of journalists’ rights, but on ensuring public order, prevention of violations, the answer signed by a deputy head of the department of police of public order and sepci8al police, the head of law enforcement department A. Barsukou states.

As the police senior officer states, requirements for policemen to behave “friendly, politely and considerately” have been toughened. “In case conflict situations between policemen and journalists during mass rallies occur, a possibility to solve the problem with the responsible person of the internal affairs agencies”.

As we have informed, on the eve of the March 25 mass rally, Freedom Day, the BAJ sent letters to the Internal Affairs Minister Uladzimer Navumau and the head of internal affairs department of Minsk city executive committee Anatol Kulyashou. With a reference to Belarusian law on mass media, the organization demanded not to interfere with journalists work during such actions.