Belarusian chief prosecutor urges police to respect journalists' rights

[News_Editor]

Belarusian chief prosecutor urges police to respect journalists' rights

2011-07-20 23:34:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

MISNK (BNO NEWS) -- Belarusian Prosecutor General Grigory Vasilevich on Wednesday called on the country's police to respect the rights of journalists amid ongoing anti-government protests, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The Minsk-based Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said that more than 80 journalists who covered recent rallies have been detained in the country over the last few weeks, many of whom had their equipment broken by police officers. Journalists have sent a joint letter to the Belarusian Interior Minister in which they complained about the crackdown.

"As for the journalists, I believe that their rights should be respected," Vasilevich said at a press conference, adding that he has sent his own letter to the interior minister. Belarus is one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to freedom of the press, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Earlier this month, Belarusian police detained at least 28 journalists who were covering protest rallies that opposition activists have been holding weekly since late May. According to BAJ, it is unclear what charges authorities have brought against them, but at least three of them were sentenced to up to 12 days in jail.

The 'Revolution through Social Networks' online campaign has been organizing rallies in Minsk and in other cities across Belarus. Hundreds of protesters silently marched in the streets of Belarus to express their opposition to President Aleksander Lukashenko's economic policies by clapping hands, which has been considered illegal by police.

Belarus has seen unprecedented economic and political turmoil in recent months as increasingly frequent protests against the 17-year reign of Lukashenko have combined with a 36 percent devaluation of the national currency.

Belarus' financial crisis worsened last May when the National Bank of Belarus set the official exchange rate of the Belarusian Ruble against the U.S. dollar at Br 4,930 per $1, a devaluation of over 50 percent.

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