THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION PRONOUNCED A WARNING TO THE "KHIMIK" NEWSPAPER

The "Khimik" newspaper (an independent regional edition) got a warning from the Ministry of Information. The editor-in-chief does not agree with the accusations and is going to send an appeal to the Superior Court of Belarus.
The warning was signed by Uladzimir Rusakievich on May 12. The edition is accused of publishing advertisements without having proved the right of the advertisers to perform their activities (art. 30 of the Law on Press and other Mass Media).
The editor-in-chief claimed that the accusation was groundless because they did prove that right. "We were informed that the Department of Ideology had sent a letter to the Ministry of Information asking to pronounce the warning: nobody even asked us to prove the information".
Mr. Balai recalled that the newspaper had already been accused of many law violations - for example, publishing TV-programmes without the permission of BelTA and etc. The newspaper managed to answer to the suits with the help of BAJ. The Office of Public Prosecutor admitted that the edition had done nothing wrong. "We are an obstacle on the way of some local officials", - thinks S. Balai.
"Khimik" experienced problems with distribution together with many other independent newspapers. In December 2005 "Vitsiebskablsayuzdruk" cancelled the contract with the edition referring to some financial difficulties. In February 2006 "Belposhta" refused to cooperate with the edition. The edition is distributed with the help of private entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, the newspaper hopes to renew the cooperation with "Belposhta" and "Sayuzdruk".
The BAJ Press Service