12.10.2010 Salihorsk electors misinformed by state-owned press

Edition # 156-159 (11286-11289) of the socio-political newspaper Shakhtsior contains the article Time to Choose, a large interview with the head of the Salihorsk District Election Commission Lidziya Klishevich who is also the head of the Salihorsk District Council. The official tells about the technical details of collection of signatures in support of the potential candidates for president of Belarus and reminds about the ruling of the Salihorsk District Executive Committee that determined the places that were banned for electoral picketing.

12.10.2010 Homel: journalists of state TV violate principles of journalist ethic

The collection of signatures for nomination of candidates for the presidential election started on 30 September. Members of the electoral teams of potential candidates held street pickets and paid visits to houses and apartments to collect signatures.

12.10.2010 Naroulia: state press starts agitating for Aliaksandr Lukashenka ahead of time

The Naroulia district state-owned newspaper published the article titled Everybody Decides on His Own, but We Call You to Make Right Choice. The content of the article leaves no doubts about the choice that is considered as right by its author, the Chairperson of the Naroulia district organization of the ‘state NGO’ Belaya Rus Siarhei Kanavod.

11.10.2010 Pinsk: state-owned press fails to present timely information about change of rules of electoral campaigning

A notice about introduction of amendments to the ruling of the Pinsk District Executive Committee About determining the places that are banned for picketing aimed at collecting signatures was published in edition #80 of the state-owned newspaper Polesskaya Pravda only 12 days after the introduction of these amendments.

11.10.2010 Zhodzina: young professional threatened with dismissal for distributing independent press

The young professional of the Belarusian Automobile Plant (BelAZ) Andrei Zubra had been detained by police on 27 September for handing out the private newspaper Tut I Tsiaper. Recently, he has been summoned to the office of the head of the personnel department of the plant, V.Shliakhtsin. The official warned him that his labor contract expired soon and advised him to hesitate about the future, as he could lose the job if he continued his public activities.

11.10.2010 Police detain circulation of 'Vitebskiy Kurier' with interviews of potential candidates for presidency

The circulation of the newspaper was detained while its chief editor, Viktar Ramniou, transported it from the Russian town of Slolensk, where it is printed. The edition was registered in the Russian Federation, as the local authorities made it impossible to register it in Vitsebsk.

08.10.2010 Maladechna: state media pay most attention to Lukashenka’s candidacy

The state-owned newspapers of Maladechna mention Lukashenka near all materials concerning the presidential election, whereas all other potential candidates for President of the Republic of Belarus were mentioned only once, in connection with the registration of their electoral teams.

05.10.2010 Niasvizh authorities work only with state press

This statement was made by the head of the ideological department of the Niasvizh District Executive Committee Aliaksandr Karniushkin in a conversation with the deputy editor of the Niasvizhski Chas Ihar Yeutukh.

30.09.2010 Radio Racyja journalist summoned to KGB

Zmitser Kisel, journalist of the Poland-based Radio Racyja, has been summoned to the KGB Brest department to reportedly ‘clear up the troubles associated with him’, Radio Racya reports.

21.09.2010 Reporters without Borders criticize Belarusian media freedom

The Reporters without Borders international organization has released a statement, expressing its deep concern over the increasing harassment of Belarusian journalists ahead of the forthcoming presidential election, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

20.09.2010 Ministry of Information warns "Brest Newspaper"

Official warning for dissemination of false information has been signed by the First Deputy Minister of Information Lilia Ananich. The reason for sanctions has been the article "Eco-settlements to save those who are tired of the city", published on September 14.

17.09.2010 Foreign journalists urge Belarus to guarantee protection of media freedom in Belarus

Representatives of the international mass media community recommend the Belarusian authorities to intensify legal protection of journalists, says a statement released by the participants of the international conference ‘10 years on – no justice for Georgiy Gongadze – the need to find new ways to fight impunity', held in Kyiv by the Article 19 and the International Media Support organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

17.09.2010 Another warning to “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper

It is the forth warning to the independent newspaper since the begging of the year.

Minister of information Aleh Pralyaskouski issued another warning to “Narodnaya Volya”, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists informs.

15.09.2010 Navahradak: trial for distribution of ‘Prauda Niakliayeva’

On 15 September Vasil Aliakhnovich, Chief Judge of the Navahradak District Court, sentenced the activists of the Speak Truth campaign Ivan Dziashuk and Natallia Katsmayer to pay 700,000 rubles for distributing the unregistered edition Prauda Niakliayeva two weeks ago.

15.09.2010 Andrei Tychyna gets fined for distribution of newspapers

The democratic activist from Salihorsk Andrei Tychyna was fined 1,225,000 rubles (about $) for handing out the newspapers My i Rynak and Hazeta Niakliayeva with the logo of the Speak Truth campaign at the Salihorsk town market on 31 August.