Scandalous draft law on concerts adopted by parliament

Amendments providing for fines for organising shows and concerts without licences were adopted at first reading.

The document brings certain legislative provisions into line with decree No. 257 of June 5, 2013. In particular, it provides for administrative responsibility for organising and holding shows and concerts if a relative licence was not obtained in due order except for the cases when permits are not needed, BelTA news agency reports.

Minister of culture Barys Sviatlou, who introduced the draft law to the parliament, said a fine for individuals would be up to 10 penalty units, for sole proprietors – from 5 to 10 penalty units and for companies – from 10 to 200 penalty units (one penalty units is 130,000 Belarusian rubles).

Concert promoters are prohibited to announce the programme of the event, for example in the media, and advertise it before obtaining a document allowing to hold the event in Belarus (if the document is needed). Ads must contain information about the organisers, including their phone numbers.

Answering the question of MP Ihar Stankevich, the minister said concert posters should contain information whether the performance will be live or lip-synced. The ministry of Trade and local authorities will control the advertising activity. “They have the right to draw up an administrative report for violating the advertising legislation,” Barys Sviatlou said.

The Ministry of Culture takes measures to eliminate the practice of lip-synching expect for the cases when it is needed for technical reasons. The minister says this point is taken into account when signing agreements with artists. Tickets for lip-synced concerts will cost as little as possible.

We remind that concerts and shows in Belarus will be allowed only with permission of ideologists, according to decree No. 257 signed by Lukashenka in June. The document obliges concert promoters to receive a special licence in the department for ideology, culture and youth of the regional executive committees of the Minsk city executive committee.