SALIDARNASTS PRINTED IN SMOLENSK On January 8 the first issue of The Salidarnasts was printed in Smolensk. In December all Minsk printing presses refused to print the independent newspaper. On January 9 the edition appeared in Minsk kiosks.

As before, its circulation amounts to 5 thousand copies. At the same time, the newspaper’s chief editor Alexander Starykevich admits it is not profitable to print the newspaper in Russia, especially if to take transportation expenses into account. Nevertheless, he is sure this is the only way to resume the edition. Starykevich points out for the second time in 6 months the newspaper was forced to stop during the subscription campaign.
Let us remind you, when in the beginning of June 2003 the Salidarnasts published materials of the suspended BDG journalist, the Chyrvonaya Zorka printing press suddenly had its printing machine “broken”. That was the alleged reason for breaking the contract for printing of the newspaper. On 4 June, on the day the Salidarnasts was supposed to come out, the printing press director lost his position for “failure to carry out the contract provisions according to the current legislation”. On 11 June the printing press refused to print the Salidarnasts newspaper. Simultaneously, the Committee for State Control started to examine the financial and economic activity of the newspaper. The check-up resulted in a fine of 4 million roubles (about 2000 USD). After that the newspaper spent 4 months looking for printing facilities. In September the editorial team managed to sign a contract with the Svetach printing press, based in Minsk. However, on December 17 the Salidarnasts received a letter, informing the newspaper about the annulment of the contract because of the overloading with orders. .The negotiations with other Minsk printing presses had the same result.

BAJ press service