STATEMENT THE BELARUSIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS ON THE SCORE OF TIGHTENING OF PRESSURE ON JOURNALISTS AT THE END OF MARCH 2011
Situation with freedom of journalistic activity in Belarus has deteriorated dramatically since recently. The BAJ members from Mahilou – Uladzimir Laptsevich, Ales Asiptsou, and Dzmitry Salauyou – were detained and sentenced to 3 – 7 days of arrest under administrative law on the eve of the Freedom Day, celebrated on March 25th. A TV cameraman Uladzislau Staravierau was detained for several hours in the city of Vitsiebsk. All the media workers, mentioned above, were detained upon far-fetched pretexts. Once again, the police and the plain-clothes men prevented journalists from reporting on street actions on March 25, 2011.
The day of March 28, 2011 appeared to be highly indicative. Apart from the abovementioned sentences, passed upon Uladzimir Laptsevich, Ales Asiptsou, and Dzmitry Salauyou,
— the Supreme Economic Court dismissed two complaints against the Ministry of Information, lodged by the “Narodnaya Vola” newspaper and the “Autoradio” FM radio, which tried to appeal against official warnings, issued by the Ministry;
— it became known that criminal proceedings had been instituted against Andrzej Paczobut, a journalist from Hrodna, for defaming the President of Belarus (article 368, part 1 of Belarus“ Criminal Code);
— the Editor-in-chief of “Svaboda” News Agency (Russia) Alexander Lashmankin was deprived of his press accreditation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus following his removal from the train in Vorsha (Vitsiebsk region) and 3 days” arrest on the alleged charges of hooliganism.
One can’t help regarding these events as a hunt for media workers. Thus the state shows complete disrespect to journalists“ professional rights as well as to the freedom of speech and the liberty of the press.
All these events follow a wave of repressions against journalists that commenced in the country after December 19, 2010. Consequently, seven journalists and BAJ members were presented criminal charges of arranging and taking part in mass riots. One of them, Alaksandr Atroshchankau, has already been sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment in a high security colony. (The court verdict hasn’t come into effect yet.) The remaining six journalists – Iryna Khalip, Natallia Radzina, Alaksandr Fiaduta, Siarhei Vazniak, Pavel Seviarynets, and Dzmitry Bandarenka – are waiting for trials. They are threatened with up to 15 years of jail.
The legal investigators haven’t returned the professional technical equipment, seized from editorial offices and journalists” private apartments after the searches.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists:
— declares a decisive protest in connection with prosecution of our colleagues;
— urges the state authorities to terminate immediately the pressure on journalists and mass media;
— reminds that apart from being a fundamental liberty, the freedom of speech makes a criterion for preservation of other rights and liberties.
Adopted by the BAJ Board on March 29, 2011
