Vadzim Zamirouski: Idiocy in our country is maintained
10.10.2013 |Society| Hleb Martynau, EuroBelarus Information Service,
One of the photos from "Press Photo" contest
Yet more pressure put on the organizers of the photography contest “Belarus Press Photo” won’t in any way influence their future plans connected with the contest.
As we have already reported, Publishing House Lohvinau is deprived of its licence due to the publication of the album “Belarus Press Photo 2011” which had been recognized extremist by the Ashmiany court on April 18, 2013.
The private entrepreneur Ihar Lohvinau was informed that his license for publishing activities had been withdrawn On September 23. The document was signed by Liliya Ananich, deputy of the Minister of Information. The license was withdrawn because of “rough violations of the legislation on licensing”. The matter deals with publishing of the Belarus press Photo 2011 photo album.
“I’m not at all surprised with this information, and I would characterize this situation simply as the continuing idiocy in our country”, - such a comment in the interview with the “EuroBelarus” Information Service made Vadzim Zamirouski, one of the organizers of the photography contest “Belarus Press Photo”.
The action of the Belarusan authorities in this situation can hardly be characterized as logical: “I don’t know what goals they are trying to achieve. If their purpose is to destroy the contest, their actions could have been tougher, whereas in the given situation these are yet more manifestations of idiocy. Everything started from idiocy and it is continuing in the same way”.
Earlier Vadzim Zamirouski has already declared that judging by the actions and decisions of the Belarusan authorities, anyone can be declared an extremist in our country. According to the photographer, the way the Lohvinau Publisher House is treated only proves that business can found itself beyond bounds in our country: “Unfortunately, any sphere and employment in our country faces this problem, as the state has many levers to exert pressure. Anyone can be found guilty, even if it’s a court decision. I think that the representatives of the publishing house are going to appeal against a judicial decision. And I can only wish them good luck with it”.
Let us recall that publisher Ihar Lohvinau is going to submit an appeal to Aleh Praliaskouski, the Belarusan Minister of Information, asking to review the court decision, which says that his license for publishing activities is withdrawn.
Speaking about the future contest of “Belarus Press Photo”, Vadzim Zamirouski is convinced that the contest will be organized in future whatever happens: “We have certain complications with its organization; however, we have already planned an exhibition of winning photos, and starting from November active preparation work for the next contest will be launched”.
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