“Zgoda” Newspaper Issue Resumed after Month’s Break

On 5 February the Ministry of Information issued a warning to the independent “Zgoda” newspaper and suspended its issue for 1 month. The newspaper was charged with having changed its juridical address without timely information the Ministry of Information and that it didn’t use all the languages that were mentioned in its registration certificate. Besides, the ministry stated that the editorial staff violated articles 19 and 20 of the Law on press: Ales Sdvizhkow was mentioned in the newspaper’s issue data as its chief editor whereas the real editor was the individual businessman Aliaksey Karol.

As a result, the editorial board of “Zgoda” asked the ministry to introduce some amendments to its registration certificate concerning the juridical address and the used languages. The newspaper’s issue data were put in conformity with the demands of the state standard.

“Zgoda” newspaper was registered in 1992 as an independent informational and analytical weekly. In December 2003 its volume and circulation increased (16 pages instead of 8, 3 050 copies instead of 2 500). The newspaper often publishes analytical articles on daily economical and political issues.

Press service of the PA “Belarusian Association of Journalists”