Independent journalists receive repeated summons to Bialynichy police department

Yauhen Hlushkou, independent journalist from Mahiliou, is summoned to Bialynichy district police department. Another journalist, Alina Skrabunova, was not found at home and is yet to be summoned.

Yauhen Hlushkou is summoned “as a person facing administrative charges.” He is supposed to appear in Bialynichy district police department on 20 May.

Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel says the summons is accompanied with violations, as it fails to specify the charge Yauhen Hlushkou is facing.

“I will consult other human rights lawyers. After that, we will decide on how to act in order to help the independent journalists,” says Barys Bukhel.

Yauhen Hlushkou and Alina Skrabunova were earlier summoned to Bialynichy district police department. However, the journalists refused to appear referring to violations in the summons.

The harassment of independent journalists by Bialynichy police was triggered by a story broadcast by the Belsat TV channel telling about a local state-owned farm named “Lebiadzianka.” The police may be checking the sources of information reported by the Poland-based independent channel.