MESTNAYA GAZETA SHAG NEWSPAPER WARNED

The Information Ministry made a warning to Baranavichy independent newspaper Mestnaya Gazeta Shag. According to Belarusian Association of Journalists, the newspaper is accused of inaccuracies in the imprint, and lack of registration data in the issue containing articles of BDG journalists.
The warning, signed by Information Minister Uladzimir Rusakevich, was issued on September 16. However, newspaper’s chief editor Anatol Vaitsiakhowski says, it got to the editorial office only in the end of last week – September 26.
The primary accusation is that “ imprint of issue #29…does not contain the newspaper’s registration number, which is a violation of Art 26 of the Law on press and other mass media”.
Another claim is about the title of the newspaper. According to the warning, “in the title of the newspaper Mestnaya Gazeta Shag, the word “Shag” does not differ in design from other elements, thus violating inter-state standard GOST 7.4-95 “Editions. Imprints”.
The Information Ministry issued the warning on the ground of these claims.
In spring 2003 the Ministry had similar claims about the newspaper title. Viktar Hurynovich, head of the Ministry’s registration department told BAJ press-service, the newspaper would be suspended if it fails to meet the requirements.