A group of journalists of TV channel “1+1” came under thorough customs inspection on the Belarus-Ukrainian border. This caused outrage of the Ukrainian journalists, they consider such actions of the Belarusian customs officers “politically motivated”.
As said in his Facebook journalist Eugene Plinsky, the film crew of Ukrainian channel visited Belarus on a business trip.
“The theme of our trip was fairly neutral, the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, but as it turned out, it’s not the theme, but in the people,” he said.
After a five-day trip the crew of the TV channel arrived at the checkpoint “Novaya Guta” to return to Ukraine. Journalists pass through customs control, but at passport control the members of the group were arrested. After an hour of waiting they were sent to “in-depth customs inspection”.
According to Eugene Plinsky, a detailed inspection has been car, personal belongings of the journalists and journalists themselves.
“As a result of personal inspection Plinsky Eugene were investigated neck t shirt, sweat pants, sweater, jacket, socks, sneakers, shorts, open areas and closed areas of the body (for underwear). As a result of inspection of goods, restricted or prohibited for export is not revealed”, — is spoken in the act of conducting a personal customs screen.
Members of the crew of the Ukrainian TV channel has repeatedly stressed that are accredited in the Republic by foreign media. They also demanded permission to call at the foreign Ministry, but were refused.
Plinsky also argues that the customs officers were requested to submit the card with the footage, to “familiarize” with their contents, but the journalists refused to do.
According to Ukrainian journalists, so they tried to exert pressure. Plinsky connects it with a series of materials from the channel about Belarus and its President.
On Monday, April 18, journalists promise to make a formal complaint to actions of employees of the state customs Committee of Belarus.
In the Gomel customs office confirmed that on 15 April in respect of vehicles and persons crossing it in the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, were the operation of customs control.
“In accordance with the Customs code of the Customs Union under the control of the customs authorities proceed from the principle of selection on the basis of the system analysis and risk management”, — explained in the office.
Recall, April 15, reporters of the Minsk branch of the interstate TV and radio company “Mir” was denied entry to Ukraine. The film crew went to Pripyat for preparing material for the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. But before Chernobyl reporters never got there — they were deployed at the checkpoint Dityatki at the Ukrainian border.
