ARTICLE 19 About Crackdown On Freedom of Speech Ahead Elections :: Charter'97 :: News

ARTICLE 19, international campaign for the freedom of expression, is circulating today its report “The Mechanism of repressions: updated information on presidential elections”. Before the presidential race the report reveals the large-scale clampdown of the authorities on free media with the purpose to ensure Alexander Lukashenko’s reelection. “The government of Belarus demonstrates total disregard for the nation through censoring the press and suppressing the alternative views. The international community should join efforts in order to denounce the unwillingness of Belarus to keep to the basic norms of the freedom of expression and exert serious pressure on the Belarusian government in order to improve the situation,” – said Andrew Paddefatt, ARTICLE 19 executive director.

“We are pursuing a very honest policy toward non-state media during the election campaign, but if these editions come up with inaccurate information, they will go shut,” – this remark, voiced by the State Committee for Press chair, proves flagrant disrespect of the government toward the key principles of the freedom of press. Since our report saw light in May 2001 the harassment of mass media intensified: non-state press is subject to repeated tax and financial examinations, it gets reprimanded, the equipment and print runs are seized.

“In light of the emerged statements about the possible implication of state officials in the abductions and murders of three leading opposition activists and journalist Dmitry Zavadsky, the campaign, unleashed by the authorities against non-state press, is seemingly directed at the concealment of truth.

The government is now playing the role of the direct censor. On August 27 the authorities appointed State Committee for Press official acting director of the sole private publishing house “Magic”. The result appeared instantaneously: on August 28 police confiscated 40,000 copies of the special issue of “Rabochy” newspaper, whereas the paper’s editor-in-chief Viktor Ivashkevich was accused of libel for publishing data on corruption in the president’s encirclement. August 31 “Magic” ran a special issue of the “Predprinimatelskaya Gazeta” with two blank spots.

Undoubtedly, the official campaign against free press in tandem with the limited access of opposition candidates to state media didn’t provide for the minimum democratic standards during the ballot period,” – concludes ARTICLE 19 report.