News on the topic: journalists
04.07.2008 ‘Hazeta Slonimskaya’ wins the trial
The court confessed that the article published by the newspaper concerning the doctor Natallia Kiman was based on real facts which were confirmed by the investigation.
02.07.2008 Journalist of Radio ‘Liberty’ fined for ‘contempt of court’
On 30 June the journalist of Radio Liberty Liubou Luniova was fined 280 000 rubles (about 130 US dollars) for contempt or court because she had answered a telephone call during the trial of an activist of the Young Democrats who had been nominated to Central Election Commission by the political council of the United Civil Party.
25.06.2008 Statement of Belarusian Association of Journalists
The Belarusian Association of Journalists expresses its protest in relation with the adoption of a new Law «On Mass Media» after the 2nd reading by the Chamber of Representatives at the National Assembly of Belarus.
19.06.2008 Court denies journalists’ rights
According to an official letter from judge Husakova, the Narodnaia volia newspaper will not be able to sue Belarusian parliamentary officials for denying accreditation to its journalist Maryna Koktysh.
06.06.2008 ‘Narodnaya Volia’ sues against president’s security service
The staff of the Narodnaya Volia newspaper and the deputy editor Maryna Koktysh has gone to court of the Maskouski district of Minsk against the House of Representatives and the President’s Security Service.
28.05.2008 MFA gives no accreditation to Radio Racyja journalist
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus denied accreditation to Radio Racyja journalist Aliaksei Minchonak. It was the first time journalists of the radio addressed for accreditation to work in Belarus, and a denial was received at once.
19.05.2008 Nasha Niva Freelancer Arrested for 5 Days
Jaraslau Stseshyk, a Nasha Niva newspaper freelance journalist, is convicted to 5 days of administrative arrest.
15.05.2008 Journalists of Hantsavitski Chas are denied accreditation again
The journalists of the non-state newspaper Hantsavitski Chas were again denied accreditation at Hatsavichy district soviet of deputies. The first denial was issued by the presidium of the soviet of deputies and the second one – by Brest oblast soviet of deputies. Its chairman Ashmiantsau insists that ‘state organ is not obliged to give accreditation to journalists’ and refers to some ‘discrediting of the state organs’ and ‘misinformation of the population in mass media’ as the reasons for which a state organ can refuse to accredit media correspondents.
13.05.2008 Prosecutor’s office interrogates BelSat coordinator
Recently the coordinator of the BelSat satellite TV channel for Belarus Eduard Melnikau has received summons to the prosecutor’s office of Minsk. However, the reasons were not specified in the document. When Melnikau phoned to the investigator and asked him, the investigator seemed to be surprised. ‘Don’t you know yet?’ he asked.
12.05.2008 Cherykau: police threaten journalist-veteran with arrest on Victory Day
In the town of Cherykau Mikalai Tsarkou, editor of the Cherykauskiya Naviny newspaper, and Siarhei Panizoutsau, its photo correspondent, were prohibited to take photos of participants of the official demonstration in the honor of the Victory Day. The acting chairman of Cherykau police, major Raikou explained that by their actions the journalists allegedly hindered the action. The policemen tried to detain them and take to a police department.
08.05.2008 Prosecutor’s office upholds KGB actions against independent journalists
Homel oblast KGB office found no law violations in the actions of the persons who had conducted a search in the apartment of the journalist Anatol Hatouchyts, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, and took away his instruments of labor. The return of the confiscated items depends on the ‘organ by which the criminal investigation is lead’.
08.05.2008 Reporters Without Borders stands for Hazeta Slonimskaya
Reporters Without Borders condemns an eviction order and other efforts by local authorities to harass the weekly Hazeta Slonimskaya, the only independent newspaper in the western region of Hrodna. Its editor, Uladzimir Valadashchuk, appealed to readers for support on 30 April.
05.05.2008 Police prohibit handing out non-state press
3 May is celebrated as the Universal Day of Press. At 12 a.m. representatives of the United Democratic Forces (including members of the Belarusian Popular Front party, the United Civil Party, the Party of Communists Belarusian, etc.) gathered near the Main Post Office in Minsk to mark this day by handing out to passers-by the officially registered non-state newspapers: Narodnaya Volia, Nasha Niva and Tovarishch. Bear in mind, that the state retail and subscription monopolist on press Belsayuzdruk, neither sells these newspapers, nor provides subscription to them, all because of their ‘oppositional’ content.
02.05.2008 1 May action brings detentions and arrests
About 30 activists of the civil campaign European Belarus were detained yesterday near the National Library in Minsk suburb Uruccha where pro-regime trade unions were celebrating May Day. Among the detained are Yauhen Afnahel, Andrei Babitski, Zmitser Barodka, the Young Front leaders Zmitser Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Khvedaruk, and chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikola Statkevich.
30.04.2008 Minsk city public prosecutor’s office to examine once again an issue of the return of journalists’ property
The issue of returning computers and other property to journalists, confiscated during the searches of 27 and 28 March, «will be dealt with once again after the given property is examined». This is stated in another letter from Minsk City Public Prosecutor’s Office in response to an appeal of BAJ.
