Ukrainian journalist: They do not shoot but it is difficult to work

with “silent” Belarus.

Euroradio: Unfortunately, Belarusian independent mass media are unable to send their journalists to cover revolutionary events in North African states. Can you share your experience? Is it difficult to work there? Does your nationality matter?

Grigori Zhigalov: In fact, it does not matter where you are from. You just need common sense to decide that you should not go to certain places today. A journalist’s ID will not protect you from bullets when the streets are filled with people with guns. You may always run into something. So you have to decide if you can risk and make a report or not. You should always play the percentages in such places. There was a case when two Ukrainian camera crews decided to make reports in Tahrir Square. I told my cameraman to leave the camera at the hotel. And our colleagues brought their camera. As a result, our colleagues could not pass anywhere and did not make their report and we took pictures for the report with a cell phone. Thank God, our technology allows taking pictures with almost anything: cell phones, mini video cameras, PCs… We often go on the air on Skype!

Euroradio: You did not plan to make reports about agricultural cities in Belarus, you had a certain goal, didn’t you?..

Grigori Zhigalov: If course I did. There are certain events taking place in Belarus. There is tension in the society and many people say that something is being born here: be it a revolution or not, it does not really matter. There is only one way for a journalist to find out what is going on it this or that country or situation – to go and look to tell viewers about it later. That’s the same: we receive pictures from the agencies we are subscribed too. But a journalist who goes to the spot will be able to make a more interesting report about the events. They will understand the situation better. So, I have come to see the events, the actions.

Euroradio: What impression do you have, what is the atmosphere like?

Grigori Zhigalov: The impression was really strange on Wednesday, July 6, when I tried working at that action. Of course, there are situations when obstacles are created for journalists. It happens almost everywhere. However, I did not understand what to do at first. We approached the Palace of Sport where protesters had to gather. But almost nobody came. However, a great number of plainclothes people approached us and said: “Go away as soon as possible, it is forbidden to sit here!, “What are you doing here – you will not take any pictures!” When they started dispersing us, we understood that there was something and that we had to look for something. It was strange that they were trying to treat journalists like protesters. We do not have the right to join – we are observers!

Euroradio: You walk along Libyan streets from time to time, and they shoot there. Nobody shoots here. Do you feel safe?

Grigori Zhigalov: It feels like it is more difficult to work here. It is so simple there: a man with a gun may shoot. Nobody shoots here but there are a lot of strange plainclothes men who do not tell you their names and may approach and arrest you all of a sudden. That is why it is much more difficult to work. Our work is ordinary – we have to present impartial information. We try to stick to the canons of journalism.

Euroradio: Would you like to visit Belarus again and to work at some other silent actions if they continue?

Grigori Zhigalov: I am always pleased to visit Belarus. It is difficult to work here. It is much more difficult than making a report in, say, Rome. But it is interesting and it is a great experience. I am a young journalist. We are always learning new things and this week in Belarus is a great professional experience for me.

 

Photo by: Zmitser Lukashuk