29.04.2010 Journalist and editor of Hantsavichy independent newspaper warned

On 26 April junior counselor of justice Siarhei Dzezhka, prosecutor of Hantsavichy district, issued an official warning to Aliaksei Bely, editor-in-chief of the ‘Hantsavitski chas’ independent newspaper and the paper’s journalist Katsiaryna Kurlovich, for allegedly publishing false information on the local council elections in the paper’s issue of 16 April 2010, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

24.04.2010 Vitsebsk: BCD activist issued with a warning

Alena Shabunia, a member of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party running for the Vitsebsk Regional and District Councils of Deputies, received an official warning from the appropriate territorial election commissions for holding electoral pickets with musical accompaniment.

03.03.2010 Election commission issued two warnings to Yury Karetnikau

On 2 March the Maskouski district election commission in Minsk issued two warnings to the leader of the Right Alliance Yury Karetnikau, an independent candidate. One of the warnings was issued for ‘untimely agitation of electors’ and the other – for printing of what the commission called ‘agitation materials’.

15.01.2010 Ministry of Justice issues official warning to Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Ministry of Justice of Belarus laid several claims to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. BAJ considers them groundless and is going to appeal against the warning.

21.12.2009 Ministry of Information upholds warning to Narodnaya Volia

The Ministry of Information named the warning issued to the Narodnaya Volia independent newspaper on 17 November groundless. The official letter signed by Minister of Information Aleh Praliaskouski states that the newspaper disseminated prohibited information, since ‘the article published by the newspaper contained extremist appeals.’

25.11.2009 Journalist Shchapiotkina warned by Prosecutor’s Office

Mrs. Tamara Shchapiotkina, independent journalist from the town of Biaroza, Brest region, has received an official warning by Brest Regional Prosecutor’s Office for interviewing on behalf of Radio Racyja. The journalist says the warning is groundless. However, Mrs. Shchapiotkina was told she might be prosecuted in case another warning was issued in future.

20.11.2009 Ministry of Information warned “Nasha Niva” for article about swine flu

The Belarusian independent newspaper got an official explanation for the warning issued by the Ministry of Information on November 18.

As the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports, a ground for the warning was the article titled “Hushing up Flu Causes Panic Epidemic”, published in issue #41 of November 4.

The notice of the Ministry of Information signed by minister Uladzimir Rusakevich says that in accordance with article 34 of the Law on Mass Media of Belarus, a journalist must verify the data in order to spread only reliable information.

18.11.2009 Ministry of Information issues warnings to 4 newspapers

The Belarusian Ministry of Information has issued official warnings to four newspapers – Nasha niva, Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belorussi, Narodnaya volia and Va-Bank – four alleged violation of Articles 4, 34, 38 and 49 of the Law on Mass Media. The officials claim the newspapers published false information. However, the Ministry failed to provide explanations to their editors-in-chief, except for Narodnaya volia, whose journalist was charged with agitating people to take part in an unauthorized street action on the day of the forthcoming presidential election in 2011.

29.10.2009 Small newspaper Brama gets warning by Prosecutor’s Office

Ales Yazvinski, editor-in-chief of the Niasvizh-based small independent newspaper, has received an official warning by the local Prosecutor’s Office for violating Article 23 of the Law on Mass Media, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports. According to Mr. Yazvinski, the warning was served upon him by Niasvizh District Prosecutor Andrei Kamornik. The warning claims that Mr. Yazvinski failed to submit free copies of the newspaper to a number of local state bodies, as it is required by the law. The Brama independent newspaper has been published since 2000 with a circulation of 299 copies in the town of Niasvizh (Minsk Region) and its neighbourhood.

06.10.2009 ‘Autoradio’ gets warned for joint project with European Radio for Belarus

On 30 September 2009 the management of Autoradio FM-radio station from Minsk received an official warning from the Ministry of Information for ‘non-fulfillment of creative concept of broadcasting’.

28.09.2009 Another warning issued for contribution to Belsat

Vadzim Arshynski, Mahiliou cameraman and artist, has been warned by the city prosecutor’s office for ‘unauthorized shooting and interviewing’ during a charity performance at an orphanage in the town of Chavusy in December 2008, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports. Mr.Arshynski was warned by a registered letter, without any direct conversations with representatives of the public prosecution bodies. Mahiliou city prosecutor Siarhei Minaeu also accused Vadzim Arshynski of unauthorized publication of the interviews on the Belsat TV channel web-site. However, Mr.Arshynski claims he did not interview anyone during the concert, only videotaping the action.

23.09.2009 Independent journalist warned for cooperation with Belsat again

Aleh Razhkou has received a second official warning from the regional prosecutor’s office “for activities on behalf of Belsat”.

The BelaPAN reminds that the journalist received the first warning in February 2009 with the same wording.

Aleh Razhkou was told in the prosecutor’s office that it is inadmissible to work for foreign mass media without accreditation by the Foreign Ministry. As informed by the journalist, on September 22 he was summoned to the Prosecutor’s office of Homel region. A worker of the prosecutor’s office Alesya Rabtsava told to the journalist that an appeal was lodged against him from the head doctor of the regional mental health clinic.

21.08.2009 Prosecutor’s office warned Mahilou journalist for working for Belsat

Member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Volha Sharapkina is punished for activity without accreditation.

As Radio Svaboda reports, the journalist got a warning from the prosecutor’s office of the Chavusy district. According to Volha Sharapkina, the reason was her report about the children’s home in Chavusy shown on independent Belsat TV channel.

“Prosecutor of Chavusy Syarhei Kinau gave me the warning,” Volha Sharapkina tells. “He said I had the right to appeal against the warning. I am going to take legal advice. We made a report about a charity action in the children’s home.

17.08.2009 Correspondent of Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita got warning

Andrzej Pisalnik, a correspondent of Rzeczpospolita in Belarus, got an official warning for an “intention to spread newspapers without imprints”.

As Radio Svaboda reports, the journalist got a official warning from prosecutors for the fact copies of Magazyn Polski na Uchodzstwie and newspaper Glos znad Niemna had been found in his car and confiscated by militia in Shchuchyn in June. According to prosecutors, he allegedly was going to spread them illegally.

12.08.2009 Mikhail Iliin warned by prosecutor’s office

The activist can face a criminal case for membership in an unauthorized organization. Recently he has been issued a warning for it. As RFE/RL reports, he was also summoned to the prosecutor’s office for giving evidence.