Belarusian authorities have revoked the press accreditation of journalists who have been covering post-election protests for foreign media outlets.
The journalists of the film crew of the TV channel ARD detained the day before in Minsk have been stripped of their accreditation. Its Russian representatives will be deported from Belarus. A protocol has been drawn up against the Belarusian representative for his alleged participation in a mass action.
The following journalists were deprived of accreditation:
RFE/RL: A. Dashchynski, A. Hruzdzilovich, U. Hrydzin, A. Dynko
BBC: T. Melnichuk, T. Yanutsevich
Reuters: V. Fiadosenka
ARD: I. Kuzniatsou
AP: Yu. Karmanau
AFP: S. Hapon
RF: H. Sharypkin
Nastoyascheye Vremya: R. Vasukovich— БАЖ | BAJ (@baj_by) August 29, 2020
In addition, local journalists working for BBC, Reuters, Radio Svaboda, AFP, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Welle and others had their accreditation canceld. It is illegal for foreign outlets to work unaccredited. The decision is valid as of today.
According to TUT.BY, no less than 19 journalists had their accreditations withdrawn as of 1 pm on 29 August. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry does not comment on the situation. The announcement came days after multiple journalists were detained ahead of a peaceful protest in Minsk.
RIA Novosti, citing the Russian embassy, reports that four Russian citizens who worked for Western media agencied are being deported from Belarus. Two of the journalists worked for the Associated Press, and two for the German TV channel ARD.
Earlier, famous Swedish journalistic photographer Paul Hanson was also deported from Belarus. He is barred from entering the country for five years. Hanson, as well as 50 other journlusts, was detained on Thursday, 27 August.
Thank you all, for the overwhelming support in both words and action. I will be leaving #Belarus, but I will return and continue to try and tell the people’s story. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AzOJZYUK0r
— paul hansen (@paulhansen64) August 27, 2020
The Belarusian Association of Journalists appealed to the head of the Investigative Committee with a demand to initiate a criminal case for the deliberate obstruction of the legitimate professional activities of journalists.
Recall that local print media, such as the Komsomolskaya Pravda, Narodnaya Volya, Belgazeta, and Svobodnye Novosti Plus, are also experiencing difficulties with printing and distribution.