Russia asks “brotherly Belarus” to release detained journalists
The Russian Union of Journalists expressed strong protest over the detentions of Russian journalists in Belarus and demanded their immediate release.
The statement was posted on the organization’s official website, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“On August 9 and 10, Russian journalists covering the country’s presidential elections were detained in Belarus. At the moment, we know about the arrests of Semyon Pegov, Maxim Solopov, Yevgeny Oleynik, Anton Starkov and Dmitry Lasenko. During the arrest, Pegov and Solopov, according to some information, were beaten, there is no contact with them,” the statement says.
Russian Foreign Ministry Speaker Maria Zakharova also responded to the detention of journalists.
“Today marks 5 years in the position of Director of the DIP of the Russian Foreign Ministry. I didn’t think that on this day I would be involved in protecting Russian journalists from the disproportionate actions of security forces in fraternal Belarus. Yes, journalists are required to work while respecting the laws of their host country. And the presence of a permit is a prerequisite for their legal activities. But many of them conscientiously requested accreditation in advance, according to all the rules. They didn’t give it to them, but now they hit them on the head with batons. This is definitely not brotherly. This is impossible,” Zakharova wrote on her Facebook.
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