Following the recent KGB searches, the Belarusian Association of Journalist (BAJ) has appealed to the Public Prosecutor General´s Office, the KGB and the Public Prosecutor´s Office of Minsk, asking them to return seized property and guarantee the journalists´ rights and legal interests. BAJ has questioned the existence of sufficiently lawful grounds for KGB to carry out its recent actions. (2-APR-08)

Based on the Press Service of Belarusian Association of Journalists. Photo: Radio Svaboda. 

BAJ has repeatedly addressed the Public Prosecutor General of Belarus Ryhor Vasilevich in connection with the KGB searches in the private apartments of independent journalists and a number of media offices on March 27–28, 2008. In a letter of appeal, BAJ insists that the seized property must be returned and that the journalists´ rights and legal interests are guaranteed. Copies of the appeal have been sent to the Head of Belarus KGB Yury Zhadobin and the Public Prosecutor of Minsk; Mikalay Kulik.

KGB search of Radio Svaboda. March 08. Radio Svaboda.jpgDoubts the grounds for the searches
Having examined the instructions for the legal searches in the journalists´ apartments and the protocols from these searches, BAJ expresses doubts regarding the existence of lsufficiently lawful grounds for carrying out these actions. According to the instructions, the people on the search list are classified as witnesses for the case.

BAJ officials noted that “during the searches, apart from information carriers (computers and hard drives), things were seized that didn’t have any relation to the case, e.g. head-phones, loud speakers, dictaphones, cameras, legal documents etc.”. BAJ observes that much of the seized equipment is necessary for the journalists to carry out their professional duties. Without this equipment, their ability to continue their journalistic activities is significantly reduced. Above: the offices of Radio Svaboda after the KGB search.