The «Nasha Niva» independent weekly received two warnings from the Ministry of Information within a week’s course. Both warnings were related to the articles, published in the issue of «Nasha Niva» that couldn’t be found by readers at the «Belsayuzdruk» news-stalls.
19 July editors of leading independent media of Belarus made a joint statement to support of Saladarnasc (www.gazetaby.com) independent online publication. It was caused by pressure the website faces from trade union officials. Here is the text of the statement...
Andrei Skurko, "Nasha Niva" Editor-in-chief arranged a press-conference at the BAJ office. It was dedicated to the "mysterious" disappearance of the larger part of "Nasha Niva" print-run, published on July 7, 2010.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists condemned a case of censorship that was applied to Nasha Niva independent weekly. Its latest issue that contains information about the notorious Russian TV film criticizing President Lukashenka failed to appear in newsstands of a state-run Sayuzdruk retail distribution system.
Natallya Radzina, a "Charter'97" Web-site journalist was interrogated at the Investigative Department of Public Prosecutor’s office in Minsk on July 1, 2010. Maryna Koktysh, "Narodnaya Vola" Deputy Editor was also interrogated at the KGB on the same day.
The Belarusian President’s Ordinance No. 60 "About the efforts on improving the use of the national segment of Internet network" came into effect on July 1, 2010. The legal act had been signed by A. Lukashenka on February 1, 2010.
Deputy Prosecutor of Homiel Region Brouka believes there are no grounds to return professional equipment that was confiscated from Maryna Koktysh, Deputy Editor of Narodnaya Volia independent newspaper. Lawyers of BAJ say the journalist can apply to court against such actions of the Prosecutor’s Office.
An attempt of “Intex-press” independent newspaper (Baranavichy, Brest region) to get back to the state-owned press distribution system in the second half-year 2010 was a failure.
The judge of Mahilou Regional Court Sviatlana Martynava refused to satisfy an appeal, submitted by Viktar Ramniou, “Vitsiebskiy Kuryer” newspaper founder, who tried to contest a fine, imposed upon him by Horki District Court.
The Leninski City District Court of Minsk has declined a claim against “Narodnaya Vola”, filed by Siarhey Khanienya, Pro-rector of Homiel State University. The judge Viera Tupik announced the verdict after a trial session on June 9, 2010.
The authorities of Belarus plan to compile a “list of limited access” and a “list of free access” to web sites. Certain governmental bodies will have the right to decide which list any web site belongs to, and to define obligations to Internet service providers to limit access to information, which is “forbidden for distribution.”
