MINSK, 14 August (BelTA) – Belarus' Minister of Internal Affairs Yuri Karayev has said that he has always been against any forms of violence against journalists. He made this statement as he appeared on the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.
“I have always spoken against any forms of violence against journalists. I support civilized coverage of events. Journalists are doing a great job, they are courageously reporting from the thick of events. Naturally, it is very important for you to get to the bottom of it and assess the developments as objectively and completely as possible. However, it does not mean that you should get in between and find yourselves in the cross hairs,” Yuri Karayev said.
“Please, do not be so carefree. I strongly ask you not to take the bear by the tooth,” the minister said.
At the same time he noted that when a firecracker, a makeshift knife, a stone or a paving block is flying towards a policeman who should take some action in response, his first thought in not about how to avoid hitting a person with a camera.
According to Yuri Karayev, he ordered to release journalists as a matter of priority.
