Jury Declines to Consider "Mestnoye Vremya`s" Lawsuit to Regional Authorities :: Charter'97 :: News

On Wednesday the Minsk regional economic court resumed hearings on the lawsuit, filed by representatives of the recently shut newspaper “Mestnoye Vremya” to the city hall. The plaintiffs demand cancellation of the regional hall’s decision, on the basis of which the Ministry of information of Belarus nullified the newspaper’s registration certificate. However, judge Alexander Bragin halted the hearings, referring to the fact that the newspaper no longer exists as a legal body.

Editor-in-chief of the newspaper ‘Mestnoye Vremya” Anatoly Gulaev told “Deutche Welle” that apart from the ruling’s cancellation they also require 1000 euro in compensation for the inflicted damage. A decision to close the newspaper, said Gulaev, was politically motivated. Recently, he added, the authorities intensified crackdown on the independent regional press ahead of the looming local elections and possible referendum on Lukashenko’s prolongation of term.

As you remember, the weekly “Mestonya Vremya” went shut upon publishing first three issues, after which they annulled the legal address of the company, which produced the periodical. Today the newspaper’s editorial board will appeal against judge Alexander Bragin’s decision and file a new petition against the regional hall.