(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the Information Ministry’s ban on nine independent newspapers in the last two months in the run-up to legislative elections and a constitutional referendum on 17 October 2004. Three of the newspapers were suspended within the last week: “Regionalnaya Gazeta”, “Narodni Predprinimatel” and “Regionalniye Vedomosti”, all for a period of three […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the Information Ministry’s ban on nine independent newspapers in the last two months in the run-up to legislative elections and a constitutional referendum on 17 October 2004.
Three of the newspapers were suspended within the last week: “Regionalnaya Gazeta”, “Narodni Predprinimatel” and “Regionalniye Vedomosti”, all for a period of three months.
Elena Rovbetskaya, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Birzha Novostei”, was also sentenced to a heavy fine on 30 September for defaming President Alexander Lukachenko.
“This wave of suspensions is nothing but a crude device to gag the press and to squeeze the life out of it by denying it income. Each time a paper is suspended, the authorities trot out the same utterly false bureaucratic pretext,” RSF said. “Furthermore, to impose fines equal to around six months salary is a shameful way of putting pressure on journalists and forcing them to suppress their opinions.”
During the week of 30 September, “Narodni Predprinimatel”, published in Novopolotsk region in northern Belarus, and “Regionalniye Vedomosti”, based in Gorky (Mogilyov region in the east), were suspended for three months. As usual, administrative irregularities were cited. The newspapers were told that the frequency, language and type of publication were not in accordance with the information on their registration certificate.
Valery Shevchenko, editor-in-chief of “Narodni Predprinimatel”, said he believed the newspaper’s stance on “protecting democracy” was the real reason behind the suspension. For its part, the weekly “Regionalniye Vedomosti” carries analysis of the situation in the country and the referendum that differs considerably from the presidential line.
On 24 September, “Regionalnaya Gazeta”, based in Molodechno, Minsk region, was suspended for “violating the media law”. Information Minister Vladimir Rusakevich accused it of failing to give official notice of a television supplement and a change in its publishing schedule.
Alexander Mantsevich, the newspaper’s editor and co-founder, said he believed the suspension was “political” and due to its coverage of a conflict pitting Vladislav Skvernik, a candidate in the legislative elections, against the local Molodechno government.
In addition, Elena Rovbetskaya, editor and co-founder of the weekly “Birzha Novostei”, was sentenced by a regional court in Grodno, in western Belarus, to pay a fine of roughly 500 euros (approx. US$615) for “insulting the honour and dignity of the president.”
In a 9 September article entitled, “Treason in the Name of the People”, Rovbetskaya alleged that the referendum on constitutional reform, which would allow President Lukachenko to seek a third term, was a “challenge to society.” She added that to call for such a referendum, “one would need not just to have no conscience, but a God-like contempt for the popular classes.”
The regional prosecutor immediately opened an investigation under Article172 of the administrative law, which penalises distribution of false news insulting the honour and dignity of the president. The journalist said she had simply expressed her point of view, which she said did not fall within the purview of the law. The judge, Natalia Kozel, declined to hear evidence from linguistic experts, as the newspaper had requested.
The current Belarus Constitution does not allow the outgoing president, whose second term lasts until 2006, to run again. As a result, Lukachenko called last August for a referendum on constitutional reform to coincide with legislative elections.
Since then, independent newspapers that are considered to be too critical of the regime have experienced increased official harassment. The independent newspapers “Vremia” and “Navinki” in Minsk, “Lyuboi Kapriz” in Mogilyov, “Novaya Gazeta Smorgoni” in Smorgon (Grodno region) and “Allo! Kuplyu, prodam, menyayu” in Baranovichi (western Belarus) have been suspended.
