Independent newspaper receives warning for criticising ice hockey championship

The Ministry of Information has issued a warning to the newspaper Svobodnye Novosti Plus.

Officials accuse the newspaper of damaging public interests and forming a negative attitude towards the ice hockey world championship.

The warning was caused by issue No. 17 of May 6, 2014, in which the newspaper wrote that the players of the Russian national team, who had taken part in the Olympics in Sochi, would not play at the world championship.

Vasili Zdaniuk, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, said the information was true at the time of going to print on May 5. The paper didn't plan to publish false information, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists cites Zdaniuk.

On May 6, when the paper was printed, the Russian national team suddenly changed its request and included two players of the Sochi Olympics. Officials of the Belarusian Ministry of Information turned attention to this fact.

The ministry says the information published by the newspaper damages public interests and forms a negative attitude towards the ice hockey world championship.

The warning of May 12 was signed by minister of information of Belarus Aleh Praliaskouski.