themoscowtimes--2020-08-29--Belarus Pulls Several Foreign Media Reporters' Accreditation

He did not specify how many journalists were affected by the measure , but foreign media including the BBC , Reuters and Radio Liberty reported the withdrawal of accreditation of several of their journalists .
Government spokesman Anatoly Glaz said the decision to revoke the media accreditations was taken on the recommendation of the country 's counter-terrorism unit .
The opposition has rejected the results as manipulated , organized two major demonstrations this month and called for a large-scale protest on Sunday .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , who has been in power since 1994 , is facing unprecedented protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he claimed a landslide victory with 80 percent of the vote .
Belarusian authorities on Saturday withdrew the accreditation of journalists working for several foreign media , including AFP , ahead of the latest demonstration challenging the results of the presidential election .
A BBC spokesperson confirmed two BBC journalists working for its Russian service in Minsk had had their press accreditation withdrawn with immediate effect .
`` We condemn in the strongest possible terms this stifling of independent journalism .
We call upon the Belarusian authorities to revoke this decision and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs , '' the BBC said .
Belarusian journalists working for Agence France-Presse also had their accreditation revoked .
`` No explanation was provided and we are not aware of any reason for the press credentials to be withdrawn , '' said AFP 's Global News Director Phil Chetwynd .
`` We call on the authorities to reinstate their accreditations so they can continue to provide independent and impartial reporting of the facts in Belarus . ''
And the Associated Press reported that two of its Moscow-based journalists covering events in Belarus had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while their Belarusian journalists had had their press credentials revoked .
`` AP calls on the Belarusian government to reinstate the credentials of independent journalists and allow them to continue reporting the facts of what is happening in Belarus to the world , '' said Lauren Easton , the AP ’ s director of media relations .
'Not afraid any more' Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has fled to neighboring Lithuania , an EU nation , after claiming she beat the 65-year-old Lukashenko at the polls and calling for the protests .
She described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely worrying .
`` If true , it is another sign that this regime is morally bankrupt and the only way it will attempt to cling onto power is by fear and intimidation , '' she said in a statement .
`` This tactic will not work .
Belarusian people are not afraid any more .
We will win .
The darkest hour is always before the dawn . ''

Belarusian authorities on Saturday withdrew the accreditation of journalists working for several foreign media, including AFP, ahead of the latest demonstration challenging the results of the presidential election. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, is facing unprecedented protests since the disputed August 9 election in which he claimed a landslide victory with 80 percent of the vote. The opposition has rejected the results as manipulated, organized two major demonstrations this month and called for a large-scale protest on Sunday. Government spokesman Anatoly Glaz said the decision to revoke the media accreditations was taken on the recommendation of the country's counter-terrorism unit. He did not specify how many journalists were affected by the measure, but foreign media including the BBC, Reuters and Radio Liberty reported the withdrawal of accreditation of several of their journalists.
news Belarus Detains 300 Protesters and Journalists Amid Ongoing Protests Read more
A BBC spokesperson confirmed two BBC journalists working for its Russian service in Minsk had had their press accreditation withdrawn with immediate effect. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this stifling of independent journalism. We call upon the Belarusian authorities to revoke this decision and allow our journalists to continue doing their jobs," the BBC said. Belarusian journalists working for Agence France-Presse also had their accreditation revoked. "No explanation was provided and we are not aware of any reason for the press credentials to be withdrawn," said AFP's Global News Director Phil Chetwynd. "We call on the authorities to reinstate their accreditations so they can continue to provide independent and impartial reporting of the facts in Belarus." And the Associated Press reported that two of its Moscow-based journalists covering events in Belarus had been deported to Russia on Saturday, while their Belarusian journalists had had their press credentials revoked. "AP calls on the Belarusian government to reinstate the credentials of independent journalists and allow them to continue reporting the facts of what is happening in Belarus to the world," said Lauren Easton, the AP’s director of media relations. 'Not afraid any more' Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has fled to neighboring Lithuania, an EU nation, after claiming she beat the 65-year-old Lukashenko at the polls and calling for the protests. She described news of the withdrawn media accreditations as extremely worrying. "If true, it is another sign that this regime is morally bankrupt and the only way it will attempt to cling onto power is by fear and intimidation," she said in a statement. "This tactic will not work. Belarusian people are not afraid any more. We will win. The darkest hour is always before the dawn."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-30--France Detains Senior Military Officer Suspected of Spying for Russia

A senior French military officer stationed at a NATO base has been indicted and jailed on suspicion of spying for Russia , local media and sources said on Sunday .
The French army officer was stationed abroad , a judicial source said confirming details from Europe 1 radio .
According to the report , the soldier was stationed on a NATO base in Italy and is suspected of espionage on behalf of Russia .
The French government confirmed it was investigating a senior military officer over a `` security breach '' .
`` What I can confirm is that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a security breach , '' Defence Minister Florence Parly told Europe 1 radio , CNews and Les Echos newspaper .
She gave no further details .
The judicial source said the officer had been indicted and jailed on charges involving `` intelligence with a foreign power that undermines the fundamental interests of the nation '' .
He is being prosecuted for `` delivering information to a foreign power '' , `` collecting information harming the fundamental interests of the nation with a view to delivering them to a foreign power '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the source said .
Europe 1 said the officer was a lieutenant-colonel stationed with NATO in Italy and had been placed under investigation on suspicion of spying for Russia .
He speaks Russian and was seen in Italy with a man identified as an agent of the GRU , the Russian military intelligence service , the report said .
It said he is suspected of having supplied sensitive documents to Russian intelligence .
The man was arrested by DGSI intelligence service as he was about to leave for Italy at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being held at a prison in Paris , Europe 1 said .

A senior French military officer stationed at a NATO base has been indicted and jailed on suspicion of spying for Russia, local media and sources said on Sunday.
The French army officer was stationed abroad, a judicial source said confirming details from Europe 1 radio. According to the report, the soldier was stationed on a NATO base in Italy and is suspected of espionage on behalf of Russia.
The French government confirmed it was investigating a senior military officer over a "security breach".
"What I can confirm is that a senior officer is facing legal proceedings for a security breach," Defence Minister Florence Parly told Europe 1 radio, CNews and Les Echos newspaper.
She gave no further details.
The judicial source said the officer had been indicted and jailed on charges involving "intelligence with a foreign power that undermines the fundamental interests of the nation".
He is being prosecuted for "delivering information to a foreign power", "collecting information harming the fundamental interests of the nation with a view to delivering them to a foreign power" and "compromising the secrecy of national defense", the source said.
Europe 1 said the officer was a lieutenant-colonel stationed with NATO in Italy and had been placed under investigation on suspicion of spying for Russia.
He speaks Russian and was seen in Italy with a man identified as an agent of the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service, the report said.
It said he is suspected of having supplied sensitive documents to Russian intelligence.
The man was arrested by DGSI intelligence service as he was about to leave for Italy at the end of his holidays in France, and is being held at a prison in Paris, Europe 1 said.