Information Ministry to analyze the “reaction” of some Belarusan media on Charlie Hebdo attack

It was announced by the Information Minister Lilia Ananich.

The Information Ministry will analyze the response of individual mass media outlets in Belarus to the recent terrorist attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo, Belarus' Information Minister Lilia Ananich said at an online conference on the BelTA website.

Ananich didn’t specify though what editions would be analyzed by the Ministry.

“In solidarity with the French magazine, some mass media outlets also published the cartoon. Was it the right thing to do? What kind of cartoons did they publish? I think, some public assessment, public disapproval is needed. All the leverages should be used to prevent terrorism in all the countries of the world,” the Information Minister noted.

“No matter what reasons the terrorists had, they should not have killed the people. Terrorism is unacceptable. However, I always analyze the reasons,” Lilia Ananich said, reminding that in 2005-2006 one of Belarusian mass media outlets published the Prophet cartoons.

According to the Minister, the cartoon entailed “a very tough and adequate response by the state, unpopular in some circles”.

The head of the Information Ministry also added that the person responsible for the publication was sentenced to three years in prison, which in practice turned into three months.

“However, the government should nip in the bud all manifestations of extremism,” the Information Minister emphasized.

Lilia Ananich said that she did not have an opportunity to follow the publications of the Charlie Hebdo weekly.

“However, I believe they were walking on thin ice and they knew it”.

“We all should be responsible for the message we send,” the Information Minister believes.