<p>Belarusian police searched the offices and homes of journalists and human rights activists for the third successive day on Friday, extending what rights activists say is a new crackdown on opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko.</p>.<p>The Poland-based Nexta Live channel said the office of US broadcaster Radio Liberty in the capital Minsk was among those raided. Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna-96 reported that two Radio Liberty journalists had been detained.</p>.<p>Belarusian security officials were not immediately available for comment.</p>.<p>The authorities have shut down a number of non-state media outlets and human rights groups since protests began last August against a presidential election which the opposition say was rigged. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, denies electoral fraud.</p>.<p>Police officers went on Friday to the homes of a journalist from Polish TV channel Belsat and those of several local reporters, Viasna-96 reported.</p>.<p>On Wednesday and Thursday, security officials conducted searches in around 20 human rights, charitable, media and expert institutions, detaining more than 15 people, including the head of Viasna-96.</p>.<p>The searches and detentions in the former Soviet republic have been condemned by Western politicians, international human rights activists and Belarusian protest leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is based in Lithuania.</p>.<p>British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said Britain condemns an "escalation in repression" in Belarus, and the European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Belarus in recent months.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Belarusian police searched the offices and homes of journalists and human rights activists for the third successive day on Friday, extending what rights activists say is a new crackdown on opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko.</p>.<p>The Poland-based Nexta Live channel said the office of US broadcaster Radio Liberty in the capital Minsk was among those raided. Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna-96 reported that two Radio Liberty journalists had been detained.</p>.<p>Belarusian security officials were not immediately available for comment.</p>.<p>The authorities have shut down a number of non-state media outlets and human rights groups since protests began last August against a presidential election which the opposition say was rigged. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, denies electoral fraud.</p>.<p>Police officers went on Friday to the homes of a journalist from Polish TV channel Belsat and those of several local reporters, Viasna-96 reported.</p>.<p>On Wednesday and Thursday, security officials conducted searches in around 20 human rights, charitable, media and expert institutions, detaining more than 15 people, including the head of Viasna-96.</p>.<p>The searches and detentions in the former Soviet republic have been condemned by Western politicians, international human rights activists and Belarusian protest leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is based in Lithuania.</p>.<p>British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said Britain condemns an "escalation in repression" in Belarus, and the European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Belarus in recent months.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>