News on the topic: mass media
15.01.2016 EFJ president: It is worrying that the government is renewing this bad practice with a new wave of prosecution against freelance journalists
Belarus continues its bad practice by handing over the first fine of the year on 13 January to freelance journalist, Larysa Shchyrakova, for working with “foreign media”. Following the ruling, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) have called for an immediate appeal of the ruling and urged the government to scrap the existing law.
15.01.2016 Homieĺ court fines journalist for ‘illegal production of media products’
On January 12, the Homieĺ District Court sentenced local journalist Larysa Shchyrakova to a fine of 4.6 mln rubles on charges of violating Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal manufacture of media products, and working without accreditation for foreign media).
12.01.2016 BAJ Appeals to President's Administration Regarding Persecution of Freelancers
The Belarusian Association of Journalists sent a request to the President’s Administration with the view to clarifying the reasons for the renewed persecution against some journalists under article 22.9.
11.01.2016 Ongoing harassment of freelance journalists in Homieĺ
Kanstantsin Zhukouski, a freelance reporter working for the Belsat TV channel is facing administrative charges (in two separate episodes in Karma and Kalinkavičy) for alleged violation of Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal production and distribution of media products). The journalist is expected to face another charge coming from the Vietka district police department.
05.01.2016 Freelance journalist in Homieĺ faces fresh charges for working without accreditation
On December 24, journalist Larysa Shchyrakova was charged with illegal manufacture of media products (Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code) for the TV channel “Belsat”.
07.12.2015 Freelance journalist complains to UN Human Rights Committee
Larysa Shchyrakova, a freelance journalist and representative of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) in Homieĺ, has complained to the UN Human Rights Committee about the violations of her right to receive and disseminate information (freedom of expression), and the right to defense in court (a fair trial).
29.10.2015 BAJ issues report on media coverage of presidential election
The report presents the findings of the monitoring of the 2015 presidential election coverage in the Belarusian state run and independent media.
28.10.2015 Freedom House: Belarus Has Most Non-Free Internet in Europe
The US non-governmental organisation Freedom House has published its annual report on Internet Freedom worldwide.
06.10.2015 Statement of BAJ Denouncing Hacker Attack on Belapan Websites
The Belarusian Association of Journalists is concerned by the hacker attack on the websites of the independent news agency Belapan.com and Naviny.by.
24.09.2015 BAJ releases second monitoring on media coverage of presidential election
The monitoring summarises the findings of the second stage of the monitoring, i.e. between 1 September and 20 September, 2015. According to the schedule of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus, it was during this time span that the CEC finished checking the voters’ signatures endorsing potential presidential hopefuls; the candidates were formally registered and launched their campaigns.
01.09.2015 Monitoring: The Coverage of the 2015 Presidential Election in the Belarusian Media
We present to your attention the following monitoring, prepared by the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
11.08.2015 Salihorsk district newspaper criticizes observers for evaluation of process of creating district election commission
The newspaper of Salihorsk District Executive Committee “Šachcior” violates the principle of electoral neutrality. The Executive Secretary of the edition Natallia Paulenka decided to struggle with the “unknown bold citizens” who “scribble articles in the Internt and try to misinform Salihorskers”.
06.08.2015 "Hazieta Slonimskaja" Faces Trial for Insulting the President
According to article 23.33 of the Code of Adminstrative Offenses,the non-state newspaper can be fined for up to 500 basic amounts (90 million rubles).
24.07.2015 Chief editor of independent newspaper to stand trial in Mahilioŭ
The trial of Ihar Barysau, editor-in-chief of an independent weekly called NAŠ Mahilioŭ, will take place in the Kastryčnicki District Court on July 29.
20.07.2015 Freelance journalists Ales Dzianisau and Ales Kirkevich face fresh administrative charges
The police department of Hrodna has opened a new administrative case against local freelance journalists Ales Dzianisau and Ales Kirkevich. Both are again accused of violating Article 22.9, Part 2 of the Administrative Code of Belarus (illegal production and dissemination of information).
