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Belarus raids top news site in widening crackdown
Also: Belarus blocks popular news site, raids its office and staff (Associated Press)
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Source: BBC
Belarus raids top news site in widening crackdown
18 May 2021
Belarus authorities have raided the offices of major independent news site Tut.by and the home of editor Marina Zolotova, taking the website offline.
Officials said a criminal case had begun over "large-scale tax evasion".
The raids are part of an increasing crackdown on dissenting voices.
Months after Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in a presidential election denounced internationally as rigged, opposition figures have either fled the country or have been arrested.
-snip-
18 May 2021
Belarus authorities have raided the offices of major independent news site Tut.by and the home of editor Marina Zolotova, taking the website offline.
Officials said a criminal case had begun over "large-scale tax evasion".
The raids are part of an increasing crackdown on dissenting voices.
Months after Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in a presidential election denounced internationally as rigged, opposition figures have either fled the country or have been arrested.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57156836
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Source: Associated Press
Belarus blocks popular news site, raids its office and staff
May 18, 2021
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities blocked a popular news site in Belarus that extensively covered months of protests against the country’s authoritarian president, and they also raided the site’s office and the homes of some of its journalists.
Belarusian authorities maintained that Tut.by violated media laws by publishing content on behalf of BYSOL, a foundation that helps victims of political repression. They said the foundation lacked proper state registration. Officials also accused Tut.By of tax evasion and launched a criminal probe of the site’s top staff members, who could face charges that carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
The authorities raided Tut.by’s offices in Minsk and other regions, and the homes of some of its journalists on Tuesday, breaking the door to enter the apartment of Maryna Zolatava, the site’s chief editor. At least four more Tut.by employees — a journalist, an editor and two top managers — were taken in for questioning, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
Independent media in Belarus came under pressure in the wake of mass protests triggered by President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed reelection. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, won his sixth term in office in an August election. Opposition supporters and some poll workers said the election was riddled with fraud, and the opposition rejected the results.
-snip-
May 18, 2021
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities blocked a popular news site in Belarus that extensively covered months of protests against the country’s authoritarian president, and they also raided the site’s office and the homes of some of its journalists.
Belarusian authorities maintained that Tut.by violated media laws by publishing content on behalf of BYSOL, a foundation that helps victims of political repression. They said the foundation lacked proper state registration. Officials also accused Tut.By of tax evasion and launched a criminal probe of the site’s top staff members, who could face charges that carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
The authorities raided Tut.by’s offices in Minsk and other regions, and the homes of some of its journalists on Tuesday, breaking the door to enter the apartment of Maryna Zolatava, the site’s chief editor. At least four more Tut.by employees — a journalist, an editor and two top managers — were taken in for questioning, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
Independent media in Belarus came under pressure in the wake of mass protests triggered by President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed reelection. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, won his sixth term in office in an August election. Opposition supporters and some poll workers said the election was riddled with fraud, and the opposition rejected the results.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-belarus-business-government-and-politics-713053da8f7fd04e3d8779af194ebdd7
