German journalists: Reporters should film when people are beaten

The Interior Ministry of Belarus has developed new guidelines for journalists that cover demonstrations or street protest actions. The guidelines is based on the experience of the German police that allegedly do not allow to take photos and to video the faces of policement and demonstrators. However, the German Union of Journalists maintains that when people are beaten, these rules do not apply.
The new guidelines are developed for journalists by the interior ministry. They are based on the experience of the German police, Belarus' deputy interior minister Yauhen Poludzen said in a statement.

According to Paludzen, the press in Germany is not allowed to take photographs and film the faces of police officers and demonstrators. Only a general background is allowed. This experience, obtained during visits to Germany, is to be copied by the Belarusian officials.

The European Radio for Belarus decided to find out how German journalists work during street actions. The press service of the German Union of Journalists told our radio that under the law, it is not allowed to have one or two persons on camera, because it will be a violation of privacy rights. This violation is subject to a penalty.

Yet, in such case, police is not often to respond. Rather, it is more likely to get a warning from action participants. That's why photographers and cameramen try to have at least five people on their lenses. 

When demonstrations end up in clashes, these rules do not apply.

German Union of Journalists: “When police beaten up people during demonstration, it is a professional duty of a journalists to have it documented”.


Photo: bymedia.net