Trial over “Narodnaya Volya” postponed

Editor-in-chief Iosif Syaredzich asked the judge to postpone trial because his lawyer Harry Pahanyaila had not returned from a business trip.

The Supreme Economic Court of Belarus was to hear today the case on a suit of the Ministry of Information regarding closing down “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper. Officially, it was a “preparatory” session of the court, Radio Svaboda said.

According to the Ministry of Information, its decision on shutting down “Narodnaya Volya” was taken on the ground of item 2.2 of article 51 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus on Mass Media in connection with issuing two or more written warnings to the newspaper.

Trial was postponed until May 17.

Iosif Syaredzich suggested minister of information Aleh Pralyaskouski opening a training centre for journalist on a basis of “Narodnaya Volya”.

“It will be a professional training centre for all journalists. For all, I’d like to stress, both state-run and independent newspapers. Because we are pioneers. There’s no more “Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta”, which was founded a bit earlier than “Narodnaya Volya”. Unfortunately, it has not have a printed version for many years. But we have not lost a single issue during 16 years.

We have resources and experience. I would like to share this experience with all colleagues. I think that the Ministry of Information should seize this suggestion and create this centre. With all the respect I have to professors at the Faculty of Journalism, there are no enough experienced professionals at university.

Today, I have suggested this to head of the ministry Aleh Pralyaskouski via the ministry’s representatives.”