The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

02.08.2010 OSCE criticizes mass media freedom in Belarus

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovich has come out in the support of Belarusian journalists.

On 30 July, Dunja Mijatovich has delivered her first report at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. In the report on two dozens of the OSCE participating States, to which Mijatovich addressed with different questions concerning freedom of mass media, Belarus is mentioned as well, Radio Svaboda informs.

30.07.2010 Ales Ramanovich's case: to be continued

The trial of the administrative case of a member of the Belarusian Popular Front and the For Freedom movement Ales Ramanovich was postponed to 10 a.m. on 10 August. Yesterday, the Pinsk Town and District Court started reviewing the case after the earlier verdict had been reversed by the Brest Region Court.

28.07.2010 Private socio-political weekly ‘Nasha Niva’ got two warnings at once

In one week the newspaper has received two warnings from the Information Ministry for publications indirectly related to Godfather, a documentary about Aliaksandr Lukashenka broadcast on the Russian TV channel NTV.

21.07.2010 Journalist of Radio 'Racyja' denied accreditation again

The Ministry of Justice dismissed another application for accreditation of Viktar Parfionenka, a journalist for Radio 'Racyja'. The previous application, submitted to the ministry a year ago, had been rejected as well.

20.07.2010 Belarusian Association of Journalists and editors of socio-political newspapers express support to 'Salidarnasts'

19 July editors of the leading independent media of Belarus made a joint statement to support the Salidarnasts (www.gazetaby.com) independent online publication that is pressurized by trade union officials.

16.07.2010 Panamarou's counsel solicits for closing criminal case

On 15 July, a Kletsk democratic activist Siarhei Panamarou paid a visit to the Minsk District Procuracy. He was informed about the end of the investigation of the criminal case against him and prented official charges: insult of state officials.

14.07.2010 Vialeika internet resource accused of defamation and insults

The popular regional website vialejka.org hasn’t been working for a week as two criminal cases have been instigated against it.

13.07.2010 Grammar mistakes can hinder registration of websites

According to the BelTA information agency, more than 16,000 of websites passed the procedure of the state registration in Belarus.

13.07.2010 Siarhei Ustsinau: ‘We’ve got questions on Decree #60 and we’ll be asking them’

On 12 July, human rights defender Siarei Ustsinau lodged with the Leninski District Court of Minsk a claim against the Presidential Administration in connection with the enforcement of Decree #60. According to the activist, some provisions of this decree violate the right to privacy.

12.07.2010 Circulation of ‘Volny Horad’ newspaper arrested by police

According to the editor, Siarhei Niarouny, the newspaper published a material about the scandalous film Godfather (about Aliaksandr Lukashenka) broadcast by the Russian NTV Channel. The journalist supposes this caused the arrest of the paper.

09.07.2010 'Nasha' Niva' newspaper removed from newsstands

The sale of the private socio-political newspaper Nasha Niva at the state newsstands was stopped after the publication of the article Godfather Surrenders.

07.07.2010 10th anniversary of disappearance of journalist Dzmitry Zavadski

10 years ago, on 7 July 2000, the Belarusian TV cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski went missing. In the morning he drove to the National airport Minsk to meet his colleague, journalist Pavel Sharamet, and has never been seen ever since. His car was found in the airport.

06.07.2010 Website of socio-political newspaper ‘Vitsebski Kuryer’ is blocked

The editorial board associates it with the enforcement of Decree #60 regulating the activities of the national internet resources.

06.07.2010 Siarhei Panamarou is suspected in insult of officials

Siarhei Panamarou, a Kletsk activist of the For Freedom movement, was summoned to the Minsk Region Procuracy for an interrogation at 10 a.m. on 9 July, at the office of an investigator of especially important cases, Mr. Azarevich, in Shchadryn Street, 1.