Police needs to immediately return confiscated equipment to 'Belsat' journalists -- BAJ
“Belsat” journalists Ales Lyauchuk and Milana Kharytonava were brutally detained by unknown men in civilian clothes in Kobryn on March 18. The Belarusian Association of Journalists has demanded that the Kobryn police return equipment to the journalists.
“In addition to the ruff detention, professional equipment of the journalists was seized. We inform you that the information about this arrest has received wide international response. The police officers made obstacles to lawful professional activities of journalists, which is punishable under Article 198 of the Criminal Code of Belarus. In connection with the above, we demand that the equipment be immediately returned,” said the Belarusian Association of Journalists in a statement.
Milana Haritonova’s phone was broken and her fitness tracker was stolen. Moreover, the journalists did not receive any documents concerning the equipment, it was just taken from them. I believe that this is called stealing. Police lawlessness had three objectives: to prevent the filmed material to go on air and to intimidate us and seize the equipment so that we would not be able to work”.
