English

Russian TV journalist given 24 hours to leave Belarus after interview with Iryna Khalip

A Russian television channel's correspondent was ordered to leave Belarus within 24 hours and banned from entering the country for five years after he recorded an interview with journalist Iryna Khalip in Minsk on May 30, BelaPAN said.

Rodion Marinichev, a reporter with the Dozhd channel, was arrested as he was leaving a park in Minsk where he had just interviewed the wife of former presidential candidate Andrey Sannikaw.

According to Mr. Marinichev, he came to police officers' attention apparently because of his large bag. As they were examining the bag and his travel documents they noticed a press pass and asked him to produce an accreditation card. Mr. Marinichev had none and was taken to a police department.

The reporter was detained for three hours before being given 24 hours to leave Belarus and released. He was also given a notice that he would not be allowed to enter Belarus within the next five years.

Mr. Marinichev said that the interview had been deleted from the camera's memory card but he hoped to have the data restored.