EU dismayed as Lukashenko terrorises media
Families watch play in courtyard in Minsk put on by opposition arts group Belarus Free Theatre (Photo: belarusfreetheatre.com)
Belarus has attacked its last few independent journalists in raids that prompted an international outcry.
Police broke into the offices of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers Union (REP) in Minsk on grounds of searching for illicit funding on Tuesday morning (16 February).
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IFJ 16 February 2021
Belarus: Belarusian Association of Journalists under attack
The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) demand Belarusian authorities to stop immediately the persecution of journalists and the prosecution of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). At least 30 journalists and human rights defenders were targeted in police raids today. Credit: AFP
Early in the morning of 16 February, BAJ press secretary Barys Haretski was briefly detained by Belarusian security forces. BAJ’s lawyer Aleh Aheyeu and BAJ’s president Andrei Bastunets were also detained to witness the search of BAJ’s offices. Other searches and raids were under way Tuesday morning at the homes and offices of journalists and human rights activists in various cities across the country.