Finnish journalists threaten to boycott Ice Hockey Championship in Minsk
Representatives of a number of major Finnish mass media are refusing to go to Belarus.
The TV company YLE and editions Helsingin Sanomat and Ilta Sanomat has announced it, charter97.org reports. They are not satisfied with the terms set by the Belarusian organizers of the event, they said. In particular, they mean the Belarusian government’s demand according to which journalists who arrive to cover the world hockey championship should not cover any other events.
"We need to be sure that journalist will be able to work according to the normal western principles,” YLE sports director Atte Jääskeläinen said. “The International Hockey Federation will see to it to provide normal working conditions for journalists.”
The Belarusian authorities may face serious consequences unless they refuse from their terms, President of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association Kalervo Kummola said.
Belarus received the right to host the championship in 2009. It will take place in Minsk-Arena and Chyzhouka-Arena on May 9-25, 2014.
