Belarus: Police raid properties of journalists, activists

Police in Belarus carried out 22 raids on the properties and places of work of journalists, human rights activists and commerce union members on Tuesday. The raids had been a part of an investigation into mass anti-government protests, officers mentioned.
The former Soviet nation has been gripped by weekend protests ever since strongman President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in a disputed election on August 9, 2020.
But authorities clamped down onerous on the general public resistance, detaining tens of 1000’s of demonstrators and opposition members.
Who was focused?
The dwelling of Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) chief Andrei Bastunets was raided. According tot he BAJ, Bastunets was detained by police, however later launched.
The human rights group Viasna additionally mentioned it was focused. Authorities seized telephones and different units, and several other members had been detained, the group mentioned in a press release.
Belarus justifies the raids
Belarus’s Investigative Committee, a physique charged with probing main crimes, mentioned they had been a part of a probe into the “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order.”
“As part of a preliminary investigation to establish the circumstances of the financing of protest activities, investigators initiated searches on organizations positioning themselves as human rights defenders,” the Investigative Committee mentioned in a press release.
Crackdown provokes anger
Harassment by way of searches, arrests and prison prosecution of journalists and human rights defenders, together with Council of Europe (CoE) and UN companions is unacceptable, tweeted the CoE’s Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic.
“Freedoms of expression, association and assembly should be ensured according to international human rights standards,” she added.
“A sad new climax of harassment against journalists has been reached” with the raids, Germany’s Journalist Union, the DJV mentioned in a press release to DW. “The repression against independent media must end. Arrested journalists must immediately be released.”
Belarus’ anti-press stance
The authorities has come down onerous on unbiased media in the course of the anti-government protests.
Belarus canceled all accreditation for overseas journalistsin October 2020, in response to EU sanctions.
Police detained journalists a complete of 477 instances final yr, in accordance with the BAJ.
Several at the moment are dealing with prison costs.
Two journalists had been due in courtroom Tuesday on costs of organizing and getting ready protests. The costs can carry a most penalty of three years in jail.