Belarus targets news agency in ongoing crackdownProtesters hold placards and traditional Belarusian flags, the symbol of the opposition, as they take part in a demonstration against political repression in front of the Belarusian Embassy to Lithuania, in Vilnius on May 29, 2021, demanding freedom for Belarusian opposition journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega. Belarus President Lukashenko sparked international outrage by dispatching a fighter jet on May 23, 2021 to intercept a flight from Athens to Vilnius carrying blogger Roman Protasevich, 26, and his partner Sofia Sapega. MOSCOW, Russia — Belarus police on Wednesday searched the homes of journalists working for an independent news agency in an escalating crackdown on the media under President Alexander Lukashenko. BelaPan is not openly pro-opposition but it carries critical material not seen in most other Belarusian media and its offices have been raided in the past. In July, Belarus raided the homes of several regional media organisations and blocked the country's oldest news organisation Nasha Niva.

Source: Philippine Star August 18, 2021 09:56 UTC