State monopolist ‘Beposhta’ refuses to return subscription to oppositional media

The postal monopolist didn’t include independent newspapers Svobodnye Novosti Plus and Hantsavitski Chas in the subscription catalogue for the second half of year 2009.

According to the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, on 11 August, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Vasil Zdaniuk learnt this from a letter from signed by Belpohhta director general Yury Kamarou. The letter was sent in a response to request of returning the newspaper in the subscription catalogue.

‘As the law doesn’t oblige us to include a newspaper in the catalogue, Belpohhta has the right to choose what newspapers will be included in the catalogue for delivering via subscription,’ the head of the state-owned postal monopolist says.’

On this ground, Belposhta finds it unreasonable to include SNplus. Svobodnye Novosti Plus in the subscription catalogue.

Editor-in-chief of Hantsavitski Chas received the same answer. Zdaniuk turns attention to the fact that Belposhta refused to return the newspaper to the catalogue in spite of a recommendation of the public coordinative council on mass media.

Bear in mind that only one newspaper Babruiski Kuryier from the ‘list of 13’ has resumed cooperation with the state-owned distributor after a recommendation of the public council of mass media, headed by Pavel Yakubovich, the editor-in-chief of newspaper of Lukashenka’s Administration Sovetskaya Belorussia.