Russia: Smolensk Printing House Refuses to Print Belarusian Non-state Newspapers BDG. Delovaya Gazeta, Narodnaia Volia and Tovarishch

The director of Smolensk Printing House Anatoliy Guchev told the information agency BelaPAN that his enterprise annulled the agreements for printing of the Belarusian editions BDG. Delovaya gazeta, Narodnaia volia and Tovarishch because the newspapers didn’t execute their contract obligations.

‘The agreements were annulled both for economic and political reasons’, said Mr Guchev. The Belarusian newspapers owe money to us. In addition, according to some information they pay for our services from other sources than their own means. We don’t want to play political games. I can’t understand why these newspapers aren’t printed in Belarus? Why do they go to Russia in the case they have official licenses? It doesn’t matter to me whether these newspapers are oppositional or no, but I won’t let they using my enterprise as a ground for electoral struggle. In the case these newspapers violated something, let the Belarusian Ministry of Press deprive them of licenses. The main thing is that they haven’t paid. They say the money will soon come, but there’s still no means at our account,’ he said.