Belarusian Association of Journalists under threat of closing down

On March 18, the Supreme Court is to deliver a judgment on complaint of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) at actions of the Ministry of Justice.

As “Salidarnast” reports, the trial began at 11:00 a.m. yesterday with evidence of witness Alyaksandr Dzyanisau, whose detention was taken as a ground for one of the counts of warning.

His detention at the glass factory Nyoman in November 2009 during a “video report” was a ground for one of the warning counts. The Ministry of Justice regarded the certificate of a BAJ member, showed by Dzyanisau, was unlawful assigning authorization of a media journalist by members of the organization.

We remind that the trial began on January 17. BAJ deputy head Andrei Bastunets was presenting arguments on ever count of the Ministry’s claim to defend the BAJ. A Ministry’s representative refused to accept all arguments of the plaintiff.

The order of the deputy minister of justice on issuing a warning to the BAJ was released on January 13. The Ministry of Justice filed several claims to the organization regarding the form of a BAJ member certificate, status of the Center of Legal Assistance to Media at BAJ, and information on the website of the Belarusian Association of Journalists. On February 11, the BAJ filed a complaint at Ministry of Justice warning to the Supreme Court.

If the court finds the warning grounded and the BAJ refuses to satisfy claims of the Ministry, the activity of the organization may be suspended.