Journalists Get Expelled from Ideological Counsel

16.02.2004.

On 12 February Hrodna journalists Andzhey Pisalnik and Iryna Charniawka were expelled from the hall, where the ideological counsel of the Information Board of Hrodna Regional Executive Committee with the participation of the vice-Minister of Information Liliya Ananich. The correspondent Yuliya Ivashkevich wasn’t admitted to the hall at all. Journalists are preparing a complaint against these actions of the authorities to prosecutor’s office. This is the second case for the last fortnight when the officials of the Information Board interfere with the professional duty of the journalists who work at independent newspapers.

On 12 February the plan of ideological work for 2004 was discussed. The counsel was attended by the chief editor of “Vecherniy Grodno” newspaper Aliaksandr Kuchynski, director of Hrodna TV and Radio Company “Hrodna” Uladzimir Piartsow, the correspondent of BelTA agency Rychard Salata, editors of state newspapers and heads of information departments of district executive committees of the region.

At the entrance to the sitting hall Andzhey Pisalnik (the “Den” newspaper) and Iryna Charniawka (“Belorusskaya Gazeta”) were stopped by the vice-head of the Information Board, who told them to leave the building. The journalists refused to do it, referring to the law on press who gave them the right to attend such measures without invitation and entered the hall.

In some time P. Skrabko called a guard of the building, who made Andzey Pisalnik leave the building. Iryna Charniawka stayed in the hall till the beginning of the sitting. The head of the Information Board Uladzimir Amelka offered the present persons to vote for expel of the journalists. Thought the proposal was supported only by seven votes, Mr. Amelka said that the decision was unanimous. Iryna Charniawka obeyed, but said that she will demand an excerpt from the minutes of the sitting with the results of the voting.