Belarusian journalists charged with 'illegally obtaining data' from state-run news agency
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 November 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian journalists charged with 'illegally obtaining data' from state-run news agency, 8 November 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5c34a7353.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
2018-11-08
By RFE/RL's Belarus Service
Investigators have also searched the newsrooms of Tut.by and BelaPAN. (file photo)
MINSK – Belarusian authorities have charged the chief editor of the BelaPAN private news agency and the editor of the independent online news portal Tut.by with illegally obtaining information via the Internet from the state-run BelTA news agency.
BelaPAN's Iryna Leushyna and Halina Ulasik of Tut.by told journalists that they were charged after being summoned to the Investigative Committee on November 8.
One editor for BelaPAN and five journalists from tut.by were handed similar charges earlier this week, according to the two women.
The eight journalists were among 18 reporters detained for 24 hours for questioning in August as part of the investigation.
Investigators have also searched the newsrooms of Tut.by and BelaPAN.
Rights groups have charged that the government is trying to muzzle independent media that are critical of strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his government.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has denied that allegation.
If found guilty, the journalists may face hefty fines or up to two years in prison.
With reporting by tut.by and BelaPAN
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
