(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – In a 17 August 2001 letter to Grodno Regional Prosecutor Vasily Litvinov, ARTICLE 19 expressed its alarm at the escalation of KGB activities undermining media freedom in Grodno, particularly in relation to the non-state newspaper “Pagonia”. According to ARTICLE 19’s information, in May, all employees of the Grodno-based newspaper “Pagonia” were summoned […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – In a 17 August 2001 letter to Grodno Regional Prosecutor Vasily Litvinov, ARTICLE 19 expressed its alarm at the escalation of KGB activities undermining media freedom in Grodno, particularly in relation to the non-state newspaper “Pagonia”.
According to ARTICLE 19’s information, in May, all employees of the Grodno-based newspaper “Pagonia” were summoned at least once to the anti-terrorism unit of the local KGB office for questioning in connection with an article entitled “Integrationists will not come to Grodno”, published in the newspaper’s 10 May issue. This article included a statement by a hitherto unknown organisation – the Council of Commanders of Belarusian National Self-Defence – which contained threats against members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Russia-Belarus Union, due to meet in Grodno later that month. During the interrogation, KGB agents questioned the journalists on the source of the above statement, as well as on the structure and operation of the newspaper.
Further, on 7 August, a KGB officer summoned “Pagonia” journalist Pavel Mazeika to his unit for an interrogation, during which the agent allegedly tried to recruit the journalist. The agent also allegedly said that “although the closure of a newspaper does not lie within the competence of the KGB, there are other relevant bodies which can do that.” Moreover, on 8 August, Nikolai Markievich, “Pagonia”‘s editor, was summoned to the regional deputy prosecutor’s office and informed that “Pagonia” was to be closed.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the authorities:
- stating that, at minimum, the KGB’s activities are in clear breach of Article 48 of the Law on Press, which forbids “encroaching upon freedom of information by means of interference in the activities or violation of professional independence” of a newspaper or journalists
- noting that the KGB’s activities also run counter to Belarus’ international obligations under Article 19 of the ICCPR, establishing everyone’s right to freedom of expression, including the “freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print…”
- adding that the measures adopted by the KGB are clearly disproportionate and intimidatory
- noting that international practice is strongly supportive, with few and narrowly defined exceptions, of the right to publish materials even if they shock, offend or disturb the reader
- stating that interference by the KGB in the work of the independent media throughout Belarus creates an atmosphere of intense intimidation, preventing the media from fulfilling the function of conveying society’s different viewpoints, and serves to repress independent voices
- urging the government to immediately cease all forms of intimidation against journalists, and actively foster conditions in which the independent media may flourish
Appeals To
Vasily Litvinov
Grodno Regional Prosecutor
Fax: +375 152 720443
Nikolai Svorob
KGB Grodno Regional Department Chief
Fax: +375 152 720592
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
