Regional journalist on the Draft Media Law

Below the Radio Liberty provides with information and comments from Chief Editors of some of these media outlets with regard to the Draft Media Law.

The newspaper “Niasvizhsky Chas” is issued every Friday. The Chief Editor Ales Bely talks about new restrictions related to the distribution of the newspaper:

“This time the authorities threaten local entrepreneurs. Now there are cases when while our colleague is selling our newspaper by a grocery shop, he is being approached and asked: “Move two steps forward from the entrance, this is our territory”.

The newspaper “Niasvizhsky Chas” was founded several years ago with circulation around one thousand issues. Later the circulation went up to almost three thousand. At times of its popularity among readers it was forced out from selling in “Soyzpechat” kiosks, from post, from city shops. Recently Niasvizhsky regional executive committee prohibited to provide journalists with information. Ales Bely says that the new Media Law might influence the work of journalists:

“So far we are submitting complaints to various state bodies. However when the new Law enters into force, we will no longer have this opportunity. The officials will have a right to write formal rejections. Noone would listen to us. The draft law is very restrictive and non-state media will have hard times to survive”.

Chief Editor of the newspaper “Gantsavitski Chas”, Piatro Guzayeuski:

“Article 42 of the current Media Law gives a right to the editor’s office to grant accreditation, the new draft previews that such right will be exercised by the local authorities. Therefore the local authorities would be making a decision whether to grant accreditation to journalists in their territory. Of course, they will reject it!”

“The Radio Liberty reported previously that one of the officials of Gantsavitsky regional executive committee grabbed a journalist with his shirt not to allow him into a meeting room to attend an event”. Piatro Guzayeuski:

“It was the case several times. I even had to call for militia. The official’s name is Mr Poplavsky, he is working in the ideological department of the executive committee.

Or another case, related to a ‘correspondent’s point’. When it was possible to rent a place, the editor’s office was located in one address and the correspondent point in another. Now the concept of correspondent point is being abolished. In general, all these opportunities to survive are abolished”.

The Chief Editor of the Belarusian language newspaper “Nasha Slova” from Lida, Stanislau Sudnik, says:

“I have been occupying the position of Chief Editor for 11 years now. How many Ministers of Information changed since then? It makes no sense to try to choke the independent media there are only few of them left. Therefore I wouldn’t dramatize the fact of adoption of this law”.

Mr. Sudnik added that Chief Editors of non-governmental media are seeking to meet with the drafters of the new Media Law. There was a request sent to Deputies from all the regions in this regard.

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