Governmental institutions want independent media to pay for information provided

The main statistics department of the Brest region told Baranavichy-based independent newspaper “Intex-press” the former would sell information to the newspaper.

“Intex-press” sent a written request to the statistics department on food price indexes and payments to private households in the Brest region, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

The reply of November 18 signed by first deputy head of the main statistics department Khandozhka informed about food prices. The statistics department doesn’t have data on payments to private households in the Brest region in January–October 2009.

The most interesting part of the reply was a warning that “data on statistics that need additional preparation will be provided on a paid basis.”

“The newspaper didn’t expect to meet the proposal of buying information from the governmental institution,” Alena Shostak, the legal counsel of Publishing House “Intex-press” noted. “We regard this as hindering our lawful journalistic activity.”

According to Shostak, article 36 of the Law on Mass Media, guarantees that individuals, including newspaper readers, have the right to get, keep and spread full and up-to-date information, including economic information. Besides, as regulated by item 12 of article 2 of the Civil Code of Belarus, Belarusian citizens have the right to get information from the press and can choose a source of information.

“In our view, fee for information interesting for the Belarusians, in particular, readers of our newspaper, is restriction of the freedom of mass media. Governmental bodies hinder lawful activity of the media outlet. Journalist’s right to collect, ask for, and receive information from governmental institutions and spread it, which is unadvisable in accordance with article 7 of the Law of Mass Media,” Alena Shostak said.