08.07.2008 ‘Reporters Without Borders’ oppose adoption of new law ‘On mass media’

The international organization Reporters Without Borders has once again expressed its concern related to adoption of the new law On Mass Media in Belarus, which is to be signed into law by Alexander Lukashenka.

04.07.2008 ‘Hazeta Slonimskaya’ wins the trial

The court confessed that the article published by the newspaper concerning the doctor Natallia Kiman was based on real facts which were confirmed by the investigation.

02.07.2008 Journalist of Radio ‘Liberty’ fined for ‘contempt of court’

On 30 June the journalist of Radio Liberty Liubou Luniova was fined 280 000 rubles (about 130 US dollars) for contempt or court because she had answered a telephone call during the trial of an activist of the Young Democrats who had been nominated to Central Election Commission by the political council of the United Civil Party.

02.07.2008 Niasvizh authorities evict correspondent station of ‘Niasvizhski Chas’ newspaper

By its letter dated 30 June Niasvizh district executive committee prohibited the non-state newspaper Niasvizhski Chas to rent a premise for its correspondent station.

25.06.2008 Statement of Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Belarusian Association of Journalists expresses its protest in relation with the adoption of a new Law «On Mass Media» after the 2nd reading by the Chamber of Representatives at the National Assembly of Belarus.

24.06.2008 Belarusian Draft Law "On Mass Media" Adopted after the 2nd Reading

The Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has adopted the Law «On Mass Media» after the 2nd reading. 96 MPs supported the bill and 2 parliamentarians voted against it, the «Interfax-West» News Agency informs.

The Head of Committee on Human Rights, National Relations and Mass MediaYury Kulakouski says, a range of proposals from the «SB. Belarus Today» («The Soviet Byelorussia»), «The Economic Newspaper», the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the OSCE representative’s on Media Freedom Office were included in the final version of the draft law.

19.06.2008 Vitsebski kurier newspaper warned

The Vitsebsk-based independent newspaper Vitsebski kurier was warned by the Ministry of Information for possessing a false editorial address and failing to inform the Ministry of their new address.

19.06.2008 Zhanna Litvina: new mass media law will ruin Belarus-Europe dialogue

According to Zhanna Litvina, head of Belarusian Association of Journalists, by passing the regressive mass media bill Belarusian authorities will ruin Belarusian dialogue with EU bodies. - The bill is essential for our society, so why is it passed so fast then? There only one reason for that – after the upcoming parliamentary election the new deputies will blame the old parliament members for having adopted this bill, says Litvina.

19.06.2008 New Mass Media Law passed

Belarusian parliament has approved the bill that will considerably limit the rights of on-line mass media in the country, including obligatory registration of web resources that will be performed by the government.

19.06.2008 Court denies journalists’ rights

According to an official letter from judge Husakova, the Narodnaia volia newspaper will not be able to sue Belarusian parliamentary officials for denying accreditation to its journalist Maryna Koktysh.

12.06.2008 .by zone: registration impossible?

The State Center of Information Security under the auspices of the Belarusian president has temporarily suspended issuing certificates of domain names’ ownership to their owners.

06.06.2008 Orsha: police confiscate leaflets about straight-line with mass media and human rights activists

Near the town bus station of Orsha the police stopped the activist Mikalai Petrushenka, resident of the village of Kokhanava. They accused Petrushenka of illegal distribution of printed editions and confiscated from him 264 leaflets. By these leaflets the activist intended to inform citizens about the air-line with the editor of the Tovarishch newspaper Siarhei Vazniak and the local human rights activists, members of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, so that the people could call up and tell about their problems.

06.06.2008 ‘Narodnaya Volia’ sues against president’s security service

The staff of the Narodnaya Volia newspaper and the deputy editor Maryna Koktysh has gone to court of the Maskouski district of Minsk against the House of Representatives and the President’s Security Service.

04.06.2008 State officials speak for increased control over internet

Aleh Praliaskouski, director of the Informational Analytical Center at the Presidential Administration, insists on ‘strengthening of responsibility for wrongful information on the Internet’. The official said it in an interview to the Belaruskaya Dumka magazine.

28.05.2008 MFA gives no accreditation to Radio Racyja journalist

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus denied accreditation to Radio Racyja journalist Aliaksei Minchonak. It was the first time journalists of the radio addressed for accreditation to work in Belarus, and a denial was received at once.