MOSCOW — Belarus police on Wednesday searched and detained
employees of an independent news agency in an escalating crackdown on the media
under President Alexander Lukashenko.
اضافة اعلان
The ex-Soviet country has been in political turmoil since a disputed
presidential election last August that sparked historic demonstrations against
Lukashenko's nearly three-decade rule.
In the wake of the protests, Belarus has sought to eradicate any remaining
pockets of dissent, cracking down on the
opposition, rights groups, and media
not under state control.
On Wednesday, police searched the home of BelaPan news agency's
editor-in-chief Irina Levshina before taking her to the outlet's newsroom for a
search there, reported website Naviny.by, which is owned by BelaPan.
BelaPan deputy editor Alexander Zaitsev said his home was also searched and
his phone, computer, and other devices were confiscated.
He said it was part of an investigation into
public order offences.
Later on Wednesday, Naviny.by said that BelaPan's accountant and its former
director had been taken to a detention center in the capital Minsk.
Naviny.by also reported that BelaPan's website was down.
AFP journalists in Moscow and Paris were unable to access it as of 1230 GMT.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists called for the
"immediate" release of all BelaPan employees.
"You can close independent media, detain their employees and scare
people. But nobody can hold back thoughts and ideas," the group said in a
statement.
BelaPan is not openly pro-opposition, but it carries critical material not
seen in most other Belarusian media, and its offices have been raided in
the past.
In January, the outlet's headquarters were searched, and a former employee
was arrested and later charged with treason.
Journalists who covered anti-Lukashenko protests have come under mounting
pressure in recent months, with several receiving long jail terms.
In July, Belarus raided the homes of several regional media organizations
and blocked the country's oldest news organization Nasha Niva.
Popular news website Tut.by was blocked in May and several of its employees
arrested on tax evasion charges.
Lukashenko's regime sparked international outrage by forcing an
Athens-Vilnius flight to land in Minsk to arrest a dissident in May, and again
last month when it was accused of trying to force home a sprinter from the
Tokyo Olympics.
Western nations have slapped a slew of sanctions on Lukashenko and his
regime over the crackdown in his country, but they appear to have had limited
effect as he maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia.
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