Hlybokaje district head outraged with journalist's presence at public meet
A freelance journalist was denied access to a public meeting to discuss measures against African swine fever in the region.
A meeting of residents took place in the village of Dzerkauscyna in the morning of July 28 to discuss the government's ban for pigs in the 5km-zone around Malinouscyna pig farm where African swine fever was officially detected.
When local journalist Zmicier Lupach entered the meeting hall, Hlybokaje district head Aleh Morkhat cried to Viktar Adamovich, the deputy chief of Hlybokaje District Police Department: "Where is the officer? Why did he allow this man to enter? He should ne fired immediately. He (Zmicier) is not a local resident and has nothing to do here. What if he has a machine gun and is going to shoot us all."
The meeting lasted for two hours. Among those attending were: the head of the district, local officials from the veterinary service, environment protection department, local council head and farm director. They called on the residnts of the villages within the 5km-zone to destroy all pigs at private households. Those who will not do it will "face measures with the police involved," Aleh Morkhat said.
Some villagers objected to destroying their pigs as no official papers or circulars were presented.
Journalist Zmicier Lupach is registered in the village of Zavaraty, located 6 km off Dzerkauscyna. Before the meeting, local council head Yauhen Tatun had called on the residents from the neighboring villages to attend the meeting as well.
