Free Press Editors and Publishers Seek Justice :: Charter'97 :: News

Editors and publishers of the Belarusian independent newspapers, exposed to harassment on part of the official Belarus, addressed the Belarusian public with an open letter, demanding restoration of justice and lawfulness towards them and the readers and also called on the government to comply with the Constitution and the Law “On press and other mass media outlets”. Following comes transcript from their address:

Appeal

Over the recent period Belarus witnessed events, which testify to the intensified crackdown of the current authorities on the independent press. Apart from notorious facts of judicial persecution and liquidation of a whole range of capital’s editions, there also arose some other serious problems. They aren’t always taken note of by the public but are still necessary to safeguard the freedom of speech in the country, simply because they define new tendency toward mass media, which found complete expression during the recent period…

First and foremost, we are concerned with the situation with the regional non-state press. The authorities are carrying out a campaign, which can’t be referred to other than cleansing the country’s informational field ahead of the local elections. Typically, the greatest problems occur with the successfully developing newspapers…

Oftentimes the local authorities deny free newspapers a right for free sale. “Belsoyuzpechat” is a state monopolist in that. In particular, they attempted to abrogate agreement on distribution with the newspaper “Regionalnye Novosti” of Gorky. Problems with sale were also faced by the “Mestnoye Vremya” from Volkovysk. Once in a while the journalists from regional non-state editions are denied access to information and are stripped of official accreditation. In fact, they halted registration of newly emerging popular political editions.

We, the editors and publishers of newspapers, whose rights were violated by the regime’s arbitrary policy, demand restoration of justice and the rule of law towards us and our readers.

We also urge the authorities to strictly follow the Constitution of Belarus and the Law “On press and other mass media outlets”.

Anatoly Gulaev, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Mestonye Vremya” (Minsk)
Yuri Kamzolov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Regionalnye Vedomosti” (Gorky)
Romuald Ulan, founder of the newspaper “Novaya Gazeta Smorgoni” (Smorgon)
Andrei Shentarovich, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Mestnaya Gazeta” (Volkovysk)
Vladimir Yanukevich, director of “Publishing House “Intex-Press Ltd.”