Andrej Bastunec: They could have burnt Belarus Press Photo albums before trial

The definition of extremism is so broad in Belarusian legislation that if in fact rules out for the citizens the possibility of expressing their opinion.

This is how the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) Andrej Bastunec commented for the charter97.org web-site on the decision of the court of Ashmiany district to recognized the photo album Belarus Press Photo – 2011 extremist.

“It is very difficult to understand the logic of that court proceeding. Because it looks like exactly now attempts are being made to re-establish the relations with European structures and at the same time measures are taken, which sharply contradict European tradition and the constitution of Belarus and international agreements. That is why it is very difficult for me to tell why this proceeding came to being”, - the journalist emphasized.

He noted that one of the versions, voiced during the proceeding, was that the confiscated albums were annihilated and this needed to be put into a legal framework.

“I do not know if this version has a right to exist, but nevertheless, all the confiscated albums were not presented in court. As to the essence of the decision, then first, it has not yet came into force, and the people involved have the opportunity to file a complaint. Second, it is hard to comment on from the legal point of view.

For me the key thing is that the interpretation of the term extremism has been made so broadly that in fact it rules out the possibility for Belarusian citizens to express their opinions. And as OSCE experts noted when the law was only being adopted, a one-page definition of extremism is equal to defining the limits of the freedom of expression in the country. By the way, it is exactly the freedom of expression, recorded in the articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and the article 19 of the International covenant on civil and political rights, that must be the center of such proceedings”, - Andrej Bastunec is sure.

I think that everything influences everything, including the relations with the West. I am rather more interested why this trial, which does not fit into any civilized relations, popped up today, when it seemed that the vector was pointing at the normalization of the relations with Europe.

We would remind that today the court of Ashmiany district recognized the photo album Belarus Press Photo – 2011 as extremist. Photographers Julia Darashkevich, Aliaksandr Vasiukevich and Vadzim Zamirouski, who were involved in the case as parties in interest, must pay 217.5 thousand roubles of court expenses.

On 12 November 2102 customs office at the border crossing point Kamenny Loh confiscated 41 photo albums with the photos from last year’s Belarus Press Photo competition

Belarus Press Photo is the first open independent competition of press photography in Belarus. This year the competition is taking place for the fourth time.