25.02.2009 Zhanna Litvina comments on the ARCHE extremism case

"The decision taken today by a court in Brest can be compared in its odiousness with the notorious events of 27 March 2008, when KGB officers conducted searches in journalists" flats all around the country. Now KGB takes upon itself the censorship functions. This is a serious infringement of the freedom of expression and the hallmark of disrespect to the right of citizens to receive information," the Chairperson of BAJ Zhanna Litvina commented about the ARCHE magazine "extremism case".

25.02.2009 Journalists banned from cooperating with Belsat TV channel

Member of the Belarusian Association of Journalist Tatsyana Bublikava was called to the prosecutor’s office of the Homel region on February 24.

She was warned there she can’t cooperate with foreign media without accreditation according to part 4 of article 35 of the new law on media.

As Bublikava told BelaPAN, she was said that two citizen had appealed the prosecutor’s office with a demand to check the journalist, who allegedly cooperated with Polish satellite channel Belsat. Bublikava was given printouts from the website for November 22, 2008. One of the materials contained a comment of director of Homel Drama Theatre Valyantsina Maiseenka about the city festival. According to prosecution officers, the head of the theatre complained that Bublikava hadn’t warned her that the material would appear in Polish media.

25.02.2009 Issue of ARCHE magazine found “extremist”

Today morning a trial has started in Brest. It is to recognize the 7-8th issue of the independent “ARCHE” magazine extremist.

Judge has announced that the session of the court is to be held behind the closed doors, so only a KGB representative and the lawyer of the magazine are present at the hearings.

People who have gathered to support the magazine and its editors haven’t been allowed to be present in the court room.

As a result, the issue number 7-8 of “ARCHE” has been recognized extremist. Judge hadn’t asked any questions. Lawyer Pavel Sapelka states that the ruling is illegal.

24.02.2009 Anti-nuclear power plant newspaper launched in Hrodna region

According to Mikola Ulasevich, leader of the public campaign ‘Astravets nuclear power plant is a crime’, there has appeared the first issue of the Astravetski vesnik newspaper. The newspaper is not registered and will be issued in 299 copies, which is not forbidden by the law. The first issue covers the possible construction of a nuclear power plant outside the town of Astravets, Hrodna region. The activists claim that a nuclear power plant should not be constructed in the earthquake-prone area of Belarus. Besides they stress that the construction of a nuclear power plant in the post-Chernobyl Belarus is a crime, which will eventually result in another irreparable global disaster.

24.02.2009 Journalists fined in Homel

On 24 February Judge Maryna Damnenka of Homel Tsentralny Borough Court sentenced two members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zmitser Karmazin and Aleh Ryzhkou to BYR 700,000 each for ‘violating the procedures of conducting street actions.’ The judge denied all the motions to summon witnesses so that the actual circumstances of the rally. On the same day Homel Regional Prosecutor’s Office issued a warning to another BAJ member Tatsiana Bublikava for working with the Poland-based BELSAT independent TV channel.

24.02.2009 IFJ Calls for Belarus Media Reform as New Law Takes Effect

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called upon the Belarus government to bring in radical reforms to media and to abandon the strategy set out in a divisive new law that came into force on 8 February.

"Belarus media requires invigorating reform, not a new media law that merely turns the screw ever tighter on the independent media," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. The IFJ says that last minute softening of the legislation and the recent return of two independent newspapers to state distribution system do not disguise the harsh reality that "Belarus journalists are the most oppressed in Europe."

The IFJ supports the Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ), which is calling for reform of the media sector. It says the European Union should make normalisation of relations with Belarus dependent on a genuine commitment to free expression.

24.02.2009 Supreme Economic Court reverses decision by first instance court

On 23 February the Supreme Economic Court reversed the verdict by a first instance court obliging the owner of the Borisovskiye novosti independent newspaper to pay over BYR 48,000,000 for ‘illegal business activity’ (part 1 of Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code). The decision is final and the case is terminated. ‘It means that the company has been found not guilty, it will not have to pay the fine and its income will not be confiscated’, said the lawyer Siarhei Zikratski. However, the newspaper has been deprived of its retail license and cannot be distributed freely. Now, after the verdict by the Supreme Economic Court, the Borisovskiye novosti may regain the license. ‘We won’t be able to sell the newspaper until the case is settled’, says Siarhei Zikratski.

23.02.2009 Babruiski kurier under pressure from Ministry of Information

According to a letter received by the Ministry of Information, the Ministry has promised to ‘take measures’ against the editorial board of the Babruiski kurier independent newspaper in case it ‘continues to violate the legislation’. The threat is based on a claim by Barusik town authorities stating that the newspaper ‘groundlessly forms a negative public opinion of the local authorities’ and offense the honour and dignity of the police. The Ministry asserts that the newspaper ‘distorts the facts and makes groundless generalizations.’ It also reminds that the Babruiski kurier has already received a warning and a second warning may result in its liquidation.

20.02.2009 Novy chas newspaper receives ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius award

The Novy chas independent Belarusian newspaper has been awarded the international ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius mass media prize. According to RFE/RL, the newspaper was nominated by the German Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gernot Erler, along with the Union of Belarusian Writers. ‘It is a great honour, and a great responsibility at a time. We hope that we have provided a high level of work under the current circumstances, just like any other independent Belarusian newspaper. Since it is not the first ZEIT-Stiftung prize received by Belarusian mass media, it is very pleasant to be in this good company,’ said Novy chas’ editor-in-chief Aliaksei Karol. The official ceremony will take place on 3 June at the Nobel Institute in Oslo.

19.02.2009 BAJ Chair Litvina meets with Solana

‘It is very important for us that European officials understand that any dialogue, any reform in the country is only possible in case the freedom of speech is secured,’ said Zhanna Litvina, Chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, after her meeting with Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union. ‘We want the dialogue between Europe and Belarus to be based on actual improvements of the situation with mass media in Belarus,’ said she. ‘Mr.Solana stressed that his first meeting on his visit to Minsk was the meeting with representatives of the Belarusian civil society. It is an evidence of the significance of their opinion for the further development of EU-Belarus dialogue,’ said Mrs.Litvina.

18.02.2009 PACE delegation meets with independent mass media

‘We would like to see it with our own eyes – whether this is a ‘face-lift’ or a genuine will to move towards progress,’ said Andrea Rigoni, Special rapporteur on Belarus in the Council of Europe’s PACE, during his meeting with independent journalists on 17 February. According to Zhanna Litvina, Chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, the meeting was meant for a number of independent Belarusian mass media. The European Parliament members were especially curious if a dialogue could help change the situation in Belarus.

17.02.2009 Court turns down claim by independent journalist

Minsk Maskouski Borough Court rejected the claim by the independent journalist Maryna Koktysh working with the Narodnaya volia newspaper, following the decision by the House of Representatives to deny accreditation to the reporter. Having considered the claim, Judge Alena Rudnitskaya resolved to turn down the civil action due to ‘the applicant’s inability to appeal the decision.’ According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists’ press-service, the newspaper is going to appeal the decision at Minsk City Court.

17.02.2009 Court turns down claim by independent journalist

Minsk Maskouski Borough Court rejected the claim by the independent journalist Maryna Koktysh working with the Narodnaya volia newspaper, following the decision by the House of Representatives to deny accreditation to the reporter. Having considered the claim, Judge Alena Rudnitskaya resolved to turn down the civil action due to ‘the applicant’s inability to appeal the decision.’ According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists’ press-service, the newspaper is going to appeal the decision at Minsk City Court.

17.02.2009 Valery Bulhakau: ‘KGB substitutes ideology control bodies’

The editorial board of the Arche magazine has been called in evidence concerning the confiscated issues of the magazine, named ‘extremist’ by the KGB Brest regional department. During an interview with www.euramost.org, Arche’s editor-in-chief Valery Bulhakau said: ‘Unless the decision of the court takes effect, we cannot state that Arche is an extremist magazine. As yet, this is nothing but an opinion by the KGB. We will see if the charges will be supported by the court. I hope that common sense will help the judges understand that the action is nonsense.’

16.02.2009 KGB finds elements of extremism in Arche magazine articles

The KGB Brest Regional Department addressed Brest Regional Court with a letter concerning the 10 copies of the Arche magazine confiscated by the Belarusian customs officers in October 2008. According to the copy of the letter received by Arche’s editorial board, issues #7 and #8 of 2008 of the magazine ‘contain elements of extremist ideology’, namely certain information ‘injuring the reputation of the Belarusian state bodies, intensifying social and political tension, encouraging mass riots and therefore undermining the national security of Belarus’ political sphere.’ The KGB demands that the confiscated editions be declared extremist and liable to destruction.