Belarus journalist detained by Russian border guards
Journalist Pavel Mitskevich was detained on March 3 by Russian border guards when returning from Russia back to Belarus.
The journalist's driverа Kanstantsin Zhukouski from Homel was detailed as well.
Pavel Matskevich had an editorial assignment from Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi newspaper to run several stories about the life of villagers in the cross-border neighboring regions of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. The journalist and his driver had all the documents in place, reports Belapan.
The journlaist told reporters he had no problems to cross the Belarus-Ukraine border and also when exiting Ukraine into Russia. But when he tried to enter Belarus from Russia, the Russian border guards had him undergo thorough checks and lenthy interrogations about the purpose of his visit to the Russian territory. The border guards explained their increased attention by the tense situation in the neighboring Ukraine.
The border guards copied all photographs taken by Mitskevich on the editorial assignment and all the audio records.
The journalist and his driver were charged with alleged violation of border area procedures.
Photo: yuga.ru
