The head of the Belarusian Interior Ministry, Yuri Karaev, ordered his subordinates not to touch the journalists while covering mass events, including unauthorized ones.
“My principled position is not to touch journalists! Except in cases where they get between violators and the forces of law and order, ”Karaev stressed.
The Minister noted that he took personal control over the work of representatives of both Belarusian media and foreign journalists, who were accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karaev, the topic of detentions of media workers is widely discussed on the Internet, so he drew attention to the fact that “in most cases, such persons are released without drawing up an administrative protocol.”
“We understand that these people are also engaged in their professional activities,” said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus and urged journalists “not to risk themselves” on illegal street actions where clashes are taking place.