July 23, Pozirk. The foreign-based Belarusian media organization Zerkalo has condemned pressure on relatives of its employees in Belarus.
The statement comes after police released a video of forced statements by the three mothers and one father of Zerkalo employees.
Some of the parents blamed their daughters for working for the organization, which has been declared an extremist group in Belarus.
There is nothing new about “the inhumane approach where authorities take revenge on undesirables through their relatives,” Zerkalo said on Telegram, commenting on the video.
“Saša, Naścia, Nataša, we are proud to be on one team with you,” it said.
“Everyone in Zerkalo is hurt by what is happening with your families.” It said the case was one of thousands as the regime continues its crackdown on dissidents.
The police-run Telegram channel said that Zerkalo TikTok hosts face criminal charges.
In May 2021, the government crushed Tut.by, Belarus’ largest independent media organization. Part of its team fled the country to launch Zerkalo.
Belarus and Russia have blocked access to the new website.
