German Chancellor Angela Merkel considers the detentions of journalists in Minsk unacceptable. She said this during a big summer press conference on Friday, August 28, reports Westfallen-Blatt.
According to her, the detentions are “the opposite of what we (the FRG government – Ed.) Stand for.”
Merkel promised that the German authorities will convey to Belarus what they consider unacceptable. Berlin, according to the chancellor, stands for freedom of the press and the provision of working conditions for journalists.
Mass detentions of journalists took place on the evening of August 27 on Freedom Square in Minsk before another protest action. About 20 journalists were taken to paddy wagons without explanation. Correspondents of the Izvestia Information Center were also among the detained. They were released later that day. After that, Izvestia correspondents gave details of their arrest.
On August 28, press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Belarus Aleksey Maskalev said that all Russian journalists brought to the police department in Minsk had been released.
Earlier, Izvestia Information Center sent a request for accreditation of journalists to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, but it was left unanswered.
Mass protests have been taking place in Belarus since August 9. On that day, presidential elections were held. According to the Central Election Commission, Alexander Lukashenko won over 80% of the vote. Citizens who refused to recognize the official election results began to take to the streets. They faced opposition from security officials. There were casualties on both sides, and several civilians were killed.