18 February 1998

Alert

Newspapers threatened


Incident details

harassed


(IFJ/IFEX) - The IFJ is concerned at recent attacks on the independent
media in Belarus. According to the IFJ's information, the State
Committee for Press of Belarus has issued warnings to six independent
newspapers, "Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta", "Nasha Niva", "Naviny",
"Narodnaya Volya", "Pahonya" and "Svobodnye Novosti" for allegedly
"calling for the seizure of power."





**For background to recent harassment of Belarus media, see IFEX alerts
of 24 December, 4 November and 5 August 1998**

The allegations arise out of publications relating to presidential
elections. The IFJ fully supports its member organisation the Belarusian
Association of Journalists in its campaign for journalists' rights to
exercise their profession free from harassment of any kind.

Recommended Action


Send appeals to the President:
  • suggesting these warnings are attacks on press freedom in Belarus,
    which follow various other attempts to silence the independent media,
    including refusal of advertising, threats of closure, and legal actions
  • supporting the Belarusian Association of Journalists in its campaign
    for journalists' rights to exercise their profession free from
    harassment




    Appeals To



    Alexander Lukashenko
    President
    Minsk, Belarus
    Fax: +375 172 23 58 25 / 26 06 10







    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.





    Source:

    International Federation of Journalists
    International Press Centre, Residence Palace
    Bloc C, second floor, Rue de la Loi, 155
    1040 Brussels
    Belgium
    Phone: +32 2 2352207
    Fax: +32 2 2352219
     

    Stay on top of free expression news.

    Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


    • More on this case

    Premises of independent newspaper searched 3 March 1999 Newspapers threatened 18 February 1999 Newspapers threatened 18 February 1998 Newspapers threatened 18 February 1998 Newspapers threatened 18 February 1998 New clampdown on press spells further repression 5 August 1998

    Belarus

    Independent reporter imprisoned 10 January 2012 Authorities tighten grip on the Internet 6 January 2012 Pro-opposition news website attacked, shut down 2 January 2012 International delegation denied entry in Minsk 6 December 2011 Conviction of rights defender a blow for rule of law, says Human Rights Watch 24 November 2011 See all alerts: Belarus


     
    The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
    Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.