(GHM/IFEX) – On 2 March 1999, the Belarusian police searched the offices of the independent newspaper “Pahonya” in Hrodna, confiscating political cartoons and letters from readers, RFE/RL’s Belarusian Service reported. The State Committee for the Press last month warned “Pahonya,” along with five other independent newspapers, against publishing materials connected with the opposition’s initiative to […]
(GHM/IFEX) – On 2 March 1999, the Belarusian police searched the offices
of
the independent newspaper “Pahonya” in Hrodna, confiscating political
cartoons and letters from readers, RFE/RL’s Belarusian Service reported.
The
State Committee for the Press last month warned “Pahonya,” along with
five
other independent newspapers, against
publishing materials connected with the opposition’s initiative to hold
presidential elections on 16 May. The police told “Pahonya” chief editor
Mikola Markevich that the authorities have instigated criminal
proceedings
against those attempting to seize power in Belarus.
** Updates IFEX alert of 18 February 1999; for background to recent
harassment of Belarus media, see IFEX alerts of 24 December, 4 November
and
5 August 1998**