News on the topic: mass media
10.09.2008 State newspaper still not punished for besmearing entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus
Court proceedings in the case of the journalist for the state newspaper Nash Krai Mikalai Khudzenka and the newspaper itself have been postponed again in Baranavichy.
09.09.2008 ‘Equal conditions’ for candidates in Svetlahorsk
During the agitation campaign a state newspaper Svetlahorskiya Naviny published a number of articles about a pro-governmental candidate Valiantsina Kavaliova. Earlier similar materials were placed in other mass media. Earlier similar articles were published in other state media, but there were no publications about Siarhei Daineka, another candidate at this constituency.
09.09.2008 Andrei Bastunets was questioned concerning 4 July blast
The deputy head of the Belarusian association of Journalists, lawyer Andrei Bastunets was questioned concerning the explosion that had taken place on 4 July in Minsk. On 7 August he received a telephone call from Leninski police department of Minsk and invited to come and answer some questions concerning the explosion. Mr. Bastunets did not insist on receiving a summons and came to the police on 8 September at the specified time.
08.09.2008 Radio ‘Stalitsa’ broadcasts the speech of candidate Viktar Harbachou in wrong time
According to the candidate for deputy Viktar Harbachou, the radio station Stalitsa violated the schedule of broadcasting the deputies’ speeches and broadcast his speech earlier. The speech was to have put on the air on 4 September at 6.20 pm, and Harbachou warned his adherents about it. Instead, his speech was broadcast at 6.05 pm and by the time the people turned on their radio, the speech had been over.
05.09.2008 Brest oblast: Jack of all trades Nina Fedaruk
On 23 august the state newspaper Narodnaya Trybuna (distributed on the territory of Brest oblast) published an article With relish! Mushroom salad in which Nina Fedaruk, a pretender for candidate at Mukhavets electoral constituency #4 and a deputy of the present parliament, told the readers that she liked household choirs, her family and home… She even proposed to the readers the recipe of her mushroom salad.
02.09.2008 Newspaper is blacklisted because of journalist’s engagement in the elections
the Ministry of Information issued two official warnings to a non-state newspaper Bobruiskiy Kurier at once. One more warning had been issued to it on 7 November 2007. Having three warnings, the newspaper can be closed down by the court.
25.08.2008 Homel: CIS observer rushes to “assess” the elections
Homel newspapers published positive comments of CIS observer Anatoly Bekeshchenko about organization of the election process in Homel region.
17.08.2008 Future parliament looms from publications in state media
State mass media continue to promote certain candidates. They obviously know who they should write about. From the publications we can actually see who is going to become the “elected representative” of the people.
15.08.2008 Human rights activist R.Kisliak complains to general procuracy about violation of his right to receive information
The human rights activist from Brest Raman Kisliak has complained to the general procuracy of Belarus about violation of his right to receive information about the picket against war with Georgia which had taken place near the Russian Embassy in Minsk on 13 August.
15.08.2008 Kletsk: state newspaper wishes pro-governmental candidate ‘to be supported by electors’
On 26 July 2008 a large interview with the schoolmaster from the village of Shepichy Alena Novik was published in Da Novykh Peramoh, a state newspaper distributed on the territory of Kletsk district. In the first paragraph the article’s author spared no compliments. He described both her and work achievements.
14.08.2008 Krychau: police trying to find out whether Niarouny drinks vodka
Recently Siarzhuk Niarouny, the chief editor of a non-state newspaper Volny Horad, filed a complaint against the actions of the officers of Krychau district police department.
14.08.2008 Baranavichy: 'Nash Krai' writes about pro-governmental candidates only
Issue #94 for 12 August 2008 of the Nash Krai newspaper (founded by Baranavichy city and district Soviets of deputies and the Baranavichy city and district executive committees) contains an article about a present deputy of the Chamber of Representatives, director general of the state enterprise Brestautadar Uladzimir Maisiuk, who is running at electoral district #7.
14.08.2008 Baranavichy: 'Nash Krai' writes about pro-governmental candidates only
Issue #94 for 12 August 2008 of the Nash Krai newspaper (founded by Baranavichy city and district Soviets of deputies and the Baranavichy city and district executive committees) contains an article about a present deputy of the Chamber of Representatives, director general of the state enterprise Brestautadar Uladzimir Maisiuk, who is running at electoral district #7.
14.08.2008 Orsha: pro-governmental candidate gives his electoral promises
According to independent observers the mass media of Orsha district conduct active early agitation for pro-governmental candidates to the Chamber of Representatives.
14.08.2008 Barysau: district electoral commission considers article about independent candidate as agitation
The issue of the non-state newspaper Borisovskiye Novosti for 5 August published an interview with its chief editor, Anatol Bukas. The secretary of Babruisk district electoral commission #63 Tatsiana Stasava phoned to the newspaper and demanded explanations in connection with this publication. Stasava also said she would direct a complaint to the central electoral commission’s supervisory board on implementation of the electoral laws by mass media because I her opinion this interview was a means of early agitation for a potential candidate.
