Police in the southeastern Belarusian city of Svetlahorsk detained eight journalists of the Ranak television channel on June 12 for extremism as a crackdown on independent journalists and democratic institutions continues. It remains unclear what the charge stems from, though media reports say it may be related to the journalists being members of the Svetlik Svetlahorsk online group on the Odnolkassniki social network. However, the online group has never been declared extremist. Other reports say the charges could be linked to a report about a deadly explosion at the city's Central railway station. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Eight Belarusian Journalists Detained On Extemism Charge Amid Crackdown
Svetlahorsk's central square