Opinion: Ill fame of freedom of speech in Belarusian media

The complicated situation of the Belarusian media was noted at the international level, with the International Observation Mission sending its special representative to Belarus.

Belarus is the last in Press Freedom Index among the countries of the "Eastern Partnership" program of the European Union. Press Freedom Index is an annual country ranking which is compiled according to the conditions for the existence of free media in a country. The ranking is created and published by the international non-governmental organization "Reporters without Borders"   and is formed according to a survey conducted among partner organizations.

In the new Press Freedom Index of the "Eastern Partnership" countries experts determine the three best and three worst events that influenced the development of independent media. Among the worst events in Belarus in this list - depriving publishing license from "LohvinaŬ" publishing house for the release of the album   "Press Photo 2011", which was recognized as extremist in Belarus. Another ones on the list of the worst events are the warning from the Ministry of Information received by "Narodnaya Volya and cases of seizure of printed materials that authorities check "for extremism" at the border

The experts managed to list only two positive developments: cessation of prosecution of Hrodna journalist Andrzej Poczobut, noting that this did not happen due to good will of the authorities and the opportunities of providers that increase access to the Internet.

The representative of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, lawyer Andrei Bastunets, noted that Belarus was again in last place among the countries of the "Eastern Partnership" in each position. During the monitoring period in Belarus the observers noted arrests of journalists during the performance of their professional duties, illegal confiscation of data-carriers and their destruction. Experts talk about unequal access to information, inadequate legislation on protection of honour and dignity from defamation and the absence of public television.

As a result, among the six countries of the "Eastern Partnership" European Union program Belarus is the last in the field of media freedom.

International Observation Mission appointed a Representative on the situation of the media in Belarus
The problem of freedom of expression and freedom of media is one of the most vital in Belarus and concerns not only Belarusian journalists and human rights defenders, but also their foreign colleagues, who have repeatedly called on the authorities to change the situation or expressed their protest against the status quo. On 5 November International Observation Mission of the Committee on International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus announced the appointment of the Representative on the situation of media and freedom of expression.  This new position was created to coordinate the work of the monitoring group of the Mission on this topic, to be responsible for the formation of recommendations to the authorities of the Republic of Belarus and to international intergovernmental organizations and other actors as well as to seek systematic improvement of the situation with regard to freedom of expression in the country.

Tatyana Pechonchik, Ukrainian journalist and activist who has 6 years of experience in the field of protection and promotion of media freedom and freedom of expression became the Representative on the situation of media and freedom of expression. Tatyana Pechonchik is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and an activists of the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine.

Since 2007 she coordinated the special project "Human Rights" in the largest Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, and in 2012, together with her colleagues she founded a non-profit organization "Centre for Human Rights Information," which she is currently the head of. The Centre deals with issues of freedom of speech in Ukraine and the safety of journalists, bloggers and media activists. Journalism Network for Human Rights, which coordinates solidarity campaigns, educational activities and information sharing was also formed around the Centre.

On 29 October shortly before the appointment of the Representative of the Mission on the situation with media, several journalists were detained in Minsk while covering a peaceful rally commemorating the victims of political repression, which has once again demonstrated the presence of systemic problems with freedom of expression in Belarus and the need for additional efforts to address them. Let us recall that in the Mission in its statements, and analytical reports have repeatedly reminded the law enforcement agencies of Belarus on the need for a clear distinction between the participants of mass events and the journalists who cover them, and urged them to take steps to protect journalists and to assist them in the exercise of their professional duties.

"We constantly receive alarming signals about the work of our colleagues in Belarus and we would like to help them. I'm ready to gather information and explore more deeply the situation with freedom of speech in Belarus, and to promote this topic in my own country and in other countries in every possible way. I would be happy if my work as a Representative of the Mission will help to improve the conditions of journalists in Belarus at least a little and will promote freedom of expression in this country," - said Pechonchik in her letter of motivation.

Originally published at humanrightshouse.org