Stop Persecution of Our Colleagues! Statement of the Belarusian Association of Journalists
The Belarusian Association of Journalists protests vigorously against numerous facts of persecution of journalists and media that have been taking in Belarus since recently.
The governmental authorities attempt to make use of any cause in order to make silent the few remaining free voices in Belarusian media field. Unfortunately, the tragic event of April 11th in Minsk wasn’t an exception to the rule either.
It was during the recent ten days only that:
— the Belarus“ Ministry of Information issued official letters of caution to the “Nasha Niva” independent weekly (April 14, 2011) and the “Narodnaya Vola” newspaper (April 15, 2011);
— the Belarus” Public Prosecutor’s Office and KGB issued official warnings to“Nasha Niva” (April 19, 2011) and the newspaper’s Editor-in-chief Andrei Skurko(April 18, 2011), the “Salidarnasc” on-line newspaper’s Editor-in-chief Alaksandr Starykievich (April 12, 2011), the “Bobruyskiy Kuryer” regional newspaper’s Editor-in-chief Anatol Sanatsenka for his publication in the Bloggers“ Section on www.belaruspartisan.org (April 12, 2011), and the “Volny Horad” (Krychau, Mahilou region) small-circulation newspaper’s Editor-in-chief Siarhei Niarouny (April 19, 2011);
— the BAJ members from Vitsiebsk Volha Karach and Aleh Barshcheuski, the“Vitsiebskiy Kuryer” newspaper’s Editor-in-chief, were taken into custody on farfetched charges and prosecuted under administrative law (April 19, 2011). Another BAJ activist from Vitsiebsk Pavel Levinau has been detained as well. The hearing of his case is still in progress. According to police records, some of the detainees were “suspected in carrying out the act of terror in Minsk metro on April 11th.”
The governmental officials continue to address threatening statements to journalists with promises to sue them for “the dances on the bones.” Obviously, the authorities regard any comments and versions they dislike this way.
There exists a real threat that the governmental authorities will make use of this situation to restrict circulation of information in the Internet. The first alarming signals included restriction of access to the Web-sites of “Charter”97” (www.charter97.org) and “Belorusskiy Partisan” (www.belaruspartisan.org). The Minister of Information of Belarus Aleh Pralaskouski has stated lately it is high time “to get rid of irresponsibility in blogs, social networks and at other Web sites.”
These events should be considered in context with the wave of repression against journalists that started in the country after December 19, 2010. It should be reminded that six members of BAJ, including Iryna Khalip, Natallia Radzina,Alaksandr Fiaduta, Siarhei Vazniak, Pavel Seviarynets, and Dzmitry Bandarenka, are allegedly accused of committing criminal crimes. Particularly, they’ve been preliminary charged with taking part in “mass riots” as well as in “the actions that blatantly violate the public order.” Another journalist Alaksandr Atroshchankau has already been sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a reinforced regime colony. A BAJ member Andrzej Paczobut has been accused of defaming the President of Belarus and taken into custody until trial.
The law enforcement agencies haven’t returned the professional equipment they seized from editorials and journalists“ private apartments during the searches, conducted during the recent winter months.
Threats, warnings, arrests, and searches are totally improper methods to improve professionalism and responsibility of the press.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists decisively protests against all forms of pressure on journalists and mass media and urges the official authorities to terminate immediately the persecution of media workers in the country.
Adopted by the BAJ Board on April 20, 2011
