Rainer Breul, a spokesman for Germany’s Foreign Office, said on Friday that Germany is requesting that Belarus release journalists arrested during recent raids on a media company.
“This political intimidation of independent media and Belarusian people is unequivocally condemned by us.
Belarusian governmental agencies must uphold fundamental rights, including media freedom and the release of imprisoned journalists “During a news conference, he said.
On Thursday, the main editor of a major opposition daily, Nasha Niva, was arrested together with three other individuals on suspicion of disseminating illegal material, according to Belarus’ investigative committee. Belarusian authorities shut down Nasha Niva’s website on Thursday.
Belarus’ Material Ministry claimed it has taken action against the website for publishing “unlawful” information that was not defined.
The ban is the latest in a series of measures aimed at suppressing independent media in Belarus. Last year, the government was confronted with a huge anti-strongman protest movement led by President Alexander Lukashenko.
