Zhana Litvina: “Some call it pogrom of independent journalism”
5
16:19, — Politics
In the run-up to the World Press Freedom Day on May 3 at the web-site of the Belarusian Association of Journalists an on-line press-conference was held with the organization’s chairperson Zhana Litvina and her assistant Andrei Bastunets.
- There are almost no legal methods left for journalists to defend themselves from arbitrariness of officials. Any police sergeant can charge any journalist of using foul language or anything else, and judges have not the slightest doubt about such testimony. It’s time to found a club “Journalists who are amateurs of foul language”.
Andrei Bastunets: Once I said about journalists: “Not law defends us today. We defend the law”. Unfortunately, with every year the situation is not getting better, quite the opposite. Though there are chances to win in a process today, when there is no direct “order” about the final verdict from higher authorities. But when there is one, we should list names of those who deliver unjust judgments, who bear false witness.
- Does the situation with freedom of the press in Belarus differ from the situation in Russia greatly?
Zhana Litvina: Every family is unhappy in its own way, as they say. The fundamental difference of our situation from the situation in Russian mass media is that Russia doesn’t have completely total control over the informational space. We all know such “islands” of the freedom of the speech like “Echo Moskvy”… Though the tendency: the inclination to get the press under influence of the regime, growth of the dictate from the side of newspapers’ owners – is alarming. The real tragedy for the Russian journalism is assassinations of colleagues, and these cases are not investigated. The tragedy of Anna Politkovskaya’s murder evoked great response from the Belarusian journalistic community.
- It is impossible to buy most of the Belarusian independent informational newspapers, and to subscribe is impossible too. Now there are attempts to get hold of the internet. Does a “great Chinese firewall” is expecting us?
Andrei Bastunets: Before taking the position of Information Ministry, Uladzimir Rusakevich was Belarusian Ambassador to China. So the Chinese experience is familiar to him. But I should notice that recently Information Minister makes rather reasonable comments on possibilities to regulate the internet space. It is obvious that there are attempts to regulate it by both legal and illegal means. But I believe in scientific and technical progress and I hope that “regulators” will always be several steps behind.
- In European countries, for instance in Sweden, all printed media with a number of subscribers more than 2,000 have a right for financial support of the state under the law. It is not relevant what topics are covered by the newspaper, does it criticize the regime or not. Maybe the Belarusian Association of Journalists should initiate an amendment to the law on Press, so that Belarus could create the same system of support of the media. Today only pro-regime mass-media have a right for the taxes of the population.
Andrei Bastunets: It’s really so, state support to mass media should be given on the basis of a competition. But the Belarusian regime makes a list of media that receive donations without any tenders. The BAJ tried to initiate adoption of a new Law on mass media, which draft had been prepared by lawyers of the association. That question was put on the agenda of the parliament of the previous convocation by the deputy of “Respublika” group. Deputies refused to consider the proposal.
Zhana Litvina: It’s really so, in our country the state support is given only to mass media founded by state structures. It is worth mentioning that this year the size of this support from the state budget was about 74 mln dollars. The principle under which so-called “socially important” media are chosen is unknown for us. I do not want to think that the size of donations depend on the degree of loyalty to the regime.
-What recent events in life of Belarusian press concern the BAJ more?
Zhana Litvina: The unprecedented action of searches held by the KGB on March 27. I think that it hasn’t been comprehended completely both by journalists and population. Some my colleagues call it “a pogrom of independent journalism”. One of the results of the action is implantation of fear, intimidation of our colleagues. In such a country as Germany, for instance, the law envisages a ban on holding searches in private apartments of journalists and confiscation of office equipment. It is possible only after the ruling of the court. Today political inexpediency of such an action is obvious. We continue to demand to give a legal treatment of this kind of actions by the special services, and which is the most important thing, to return office equipment and implementation of a declarative principle of journalists’ accrediting, discontinuation of our colleagues’ persecution, closing of this case.
- What was the KGB’s answer to the request of the BAJ after searches in apartments of independent journalists? How did KGB men explained what bearing Dictaphones, earphones, monitors had to the political cartoons which had been the pretext for seizing office equipment?
Andrei Bastunets: we have received only answers from the prosecutor’s office of Minsk. The essence of the answers is given at our web-page. The prosecutor’s office hasn’t answered in which way Dictaphones, earphones, monitors, books or music CDs were connected to the cartoons criminal case. But that was our question. And we are still waiting for the answer of the KGB. By the way, today is the last day they are to answer under the law.
- Please give a piece of advice how not to fall into disgrace of the regime. Where is the limit after which the profession stops and politics starts?
Zhana Litvina: To win favour should be the lest thing you desire. In our profession, I believe, the most important thing is a sense of one’s dignity. When you have one, the regime respects you, no matter how they think of you. And the profession to my mind ends where the journalist assumes a role of a political analyst and starts to express his own opinion.
Andrei Bastunets: I believe that to win favour of the regime is even greater threat for a journalist. What concerns the border between the profession and politics, the answer is in your question. To follow professional standards and not care much about falling into grace or disgrace means to remain on this side of the border.
- Today “Gazeta Slonimskaya” faces serious danger. The editorial office has addressed for readers’ support. How do you estimate chances of the newspaper and its readers to win in the struggle with local officials? How can colleagues, the BAJ members, help the local edition? A paper independent newspaper is such a value for us these days.
Andrei Bastunets: I hope “Gazeta Slonimskaya” will overcome the problems. I must remind that this year the newspaper was awarded among the best mass media of Eastern Europe by Zeit Foundation. It is a very good idea to hold an action in support of “Gazeta Slonimskaya”. We shall discuss it soon. If you have some ideas concerning the rally, we are open for them. In any case we won’t leave this situation without our attention.
