The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News on the topic: freedom of expression

08.04.2008 Minsk authorities struggle against satellite dishes

Minsk owners of satellite antennas received instructions from utility and municipal services. By 7 April they must file documents allowing installing dishes and air conditioners.

13.03.2008 KGB Confirms Internet Filtering

At a press-conference in Minsk the deputy chair of the anti-terroristic center of the KGB Viachaslau Lilenka stated that ‘unnecessary knowledge present in the internet, must be closed and must reach only those categories of persons, who can correctly understand it.’ According to Linenka, the filtration of access to the websites which can contain information about terrorist actions or provoke them is filtered in Belarus.

13.03.2008 Head of Belarusian State TV and Radio Company Threatens Entrepreneurs

Aliaksandr Zimouski, head of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company, has answered to the entrepreneurs who had addressed him with a request to give them an opportunity to appear on TV in a live program.

11.03.2008 Brest: Journalists Detained while Implementing Professional Duties

A group of independent correspondents spent 5 hours in a police department. Besides a colonel, ideological officers of Brest oblast executive committee spoke with them.

10.03.2008 'Euronews' Conceal Reasons for US Sanctions against Belarus

The Russian service of the pan-European TV channel Euronews informed about the reaction of the Belarusian population to the sanctions imposed by the US.

05.03.2008 Search in Babruisk

In the afternoon on 5 March the local police inspector, a representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and an unknown person in mufti paid a visit to the private house of the human rights activist Ihar Khodzka. Besides, Khodzka, at that time in the house there were several youngsters, including the leader of Babruisk branch of the BPF Youth Siarzhuk Latsinski.

12.02.2008 Horki Authorities Prohibit Issue of New Newspapers

Horki district executive committee did not let a member of the Belarusian People’s Front Party Eduard Brokarau to issue newspapers. Brokarau wanted to receive a license for advertisement, trade and issue of newspapers.

05.02.2008 Belarusian PEN-center Demands Reconsideration of Zdvizhkou’s Case and His Release

The deputy-editor of the Belarusian non-state newspaper Zgoda Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou has been sentenced to three years of high security prison for having reprinted Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, which was qualified as violation of article 130, part 2 of the Criminal Code, ‘fomentation of religious enmity’.

14.01.2008 Hantsavichy Authorities Interfere with Work of Independent Journalists

The journalist of a non-state newspaper Hantsavitski Chas Iryna Damaratskaya was not admitted to the awarding of the best pupils and teachers of the district that took place on 9 January in Hantsavichy culture palace.

14.01.2008 Journalists Seized for Interview with Oppositional Politician

After an interview with the member of the United Civil Party, an economist Pavel Daneika, the police seize the journalists Uladzimir and Halina Samoilaus and a cameraman Valery Buldyk. After the arrest and search policemen confiscated their equipment.

14.01.2008 Homel: KGB Searches Journalist Padsasonny’s Apartment

Officers of the local KGB department searched an apartment of member of the Belarusian Association of Belarus Siarhei Padsasonny in Homel on 12 January.

10.01.2008 Independent Electronic Editions Are Blocked

At about 10 a.m. on 10 December the access to the web-sites of the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty and Charter’97 were blocked and the Belarusian Partisan web-site worked with problems.

14.12.2007 Journalist Padsasonny’s Complaint Forwarded to KGB

Homel oblast prosecutor’s office forwarded the complaint of Homel journalist, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Siarhei Padsasonny against unlawful actions of the KGB to those against who he complained.

14.12.2007 Norwegian PEN-center and IPA: Freedom of Expression Is Violated in Belarus

During the last two years the government of Belarus did not improve the situation of the freedom of expression and continued pressurizing journalists and writers. This is the opinion presented in the report of representatives of the Norwegian PEN-center and the International Publishers’ Association on the results of their visits to Belarus in November 2007.