The Belarusian government on Saturday withdrew the accreditation of hounds running for various foreign media outlets, adding AFP, before the most recent demonstration defying the effects of the presidential election.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in force since 1ninenine4, faces unprecedented protests since the disputed elections on August 9 in which he won a landslide victory with 80% of the vote.
The opposition downplayed the effects as manipulated, held two primary protests this month and a large-scale demonstration on Sunday.
Government spokesman Anatoly Glaz said the resolution to revoke media accreditations was made with the advice of the country’s counter-terrorism unit.
Media accreditation retreats ahead of Belarusian opposition march scheduled for Sunday Photo: AFP/Sergei GAPON
He specified the number of announcers affected by the measure, but the foreign media that added the BBC, Reuters and Radio Liberty reported on the withdrawal of accreditation from several of its announcers.
A BBC spokesman showed that two BBC journalists running for their Russian service in Minsk had had their press accreditation withdrawn with immediate effect.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this stifling of independent journalism. We call on the Belarusian government to revoke this resolution and allow our hounds to continue to do their job,” the BBC said.
Belarusian hounds applying for Agence France-Presse have also had their accreditation revoked.
Belarusians marched in central Minsk on Saturday Photo: AFP / Tatyana KALINOVSKAYA
“No explanation has been provided and we are aware of any explanation as to why the press credentials were withdrawn,” said Phil Chetwynd, Director of Global News at AFP.
“We call on the government to restore its accreditations so that they can continue to provide independent and independent reports on the facts in Belarus. “
And the Associated Press reported that two of its Moscow-based hounds covering the occasions in Belarus were deported to Russia on Saturday, while its Belarusian hounds had their press references revoked.
“The Palestinian Authority calls on the Belarusian government to repair the references of independent hounds and allow them to continue to report the facts on what is in Belarus to the world,” said Lauren Easton, director of media relations at the Palestinian Authority.
IMAGES Approximately 20 other people protesting against the disputed re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko were arrested at a demonstration attended by around 1,000 people in Minsk Independence Square, which has been the scene of unprecedented anti-government protests in recent weeks. : AFPTV / Alexander GREBENKIN
Opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled to neighbouring Lithuania, an EU country, after claiming she had beaten Lukashenko, 65, at the polls and called for protests.
He described the news of the withdrawal of media accreditations as worrying.
“If this is true, it’s a sign that this regime is morally bankrupt and that the only way to hold on to strength is worry and intimidation,” he said in a statement.
“This tactic will not work. The other Belarusians are no longer afraid. Ganaremos. La darkest hour is before dawn. “
The U. S. embassy in Minsk condemned movements opposed to journalists.
“We, the other Belarusians, in their aspirations for a long-term democratic and unclean rich, and their call on the Belarusian government to put democratic reforms into force and respect human rights,” he said.
The effects of the presidential election were rejected through the European Union, which opposes the sanctions of senior Belarusian officials and suggested Lukashenko interact in the discussion with the opposition.
Lukashenko, for his part, refused to make concessions and alleged a Western plot.
At least three other people were killed and many injured in the violence, while nearly 7,000 were arrested.
Several hounds in Belarus have been arrested since the election.