Ukrainian journalists require Lukashenko to release journalist of "Belsat" channel

Information Center on Human Rights and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine urged the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko to release Belarusian journalist and operator of "Belsat" channel  Aleksandr Berezenko, the Moscow court of Minsk sentenced him to 15 days in jail on March 27. Press service of Information Center for Human Rights wrote in statement which organization sent to IMI.

"We, Ukrainian journalists express our solidarity with the Belarusian journalist and operator of "Belsat" channel Aleksandr Berezenko, the Moscow district court of Minsk sentenced him to 15 days in jail, on March 27. Imprisoned journalist is on a hunger strike in the protest to verdict.

According to police protocol and "witnesses" statements, Aleksandr Berezenko was swearing and waving his arms on Freedom Day, on March 25 . However, the detention of Aleksandr Berezenko was recorded on video. He had carried a live broadcast of the event and behaved calmly and repeatedly said "Journalist! Journalist!" to the riot police, - the statement says.

The authors of the appeal note that since this video was not enough of the proof of innocence to a judge Tamara Motyl, they believe that the trial on their colleague Aleksandr Berezenko is a form of repression and intimidation in his professional career.