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PRESS FREEDOM IN BELARUS DETERIORATING: OSCE

Press freedom conditions in Belarus have been deteriorating in recent years due to government pressure on independent media, according to a new report by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) media watchdog.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, says independent media "are under constant pressure through judicial, extra-judicial and economic means." Under Belarusian law, the government has wide powers to suspend and close media outlets if content is deemed to be overly critical of the president.

Legal harassment, in the form of libel and defamation actions, is also causing a chilling effect on journalists, says Haraszti. "Belarus is the only OSCE participating State where people are serving actual prison sentences for violating the dignity of the President," he notes. Current legislation criminalises libel and also provides special protection to officials, including the president.

The OSCE report follows a February visit to Belarus where Haraszti met with senior government officials, parliamentarians, journalists and representatives of non-governmental organisations. Haraszti says his office is willing to assist Belarus in improving its press freedom record by providing advice and recommendations for legal reform.

Read the full report here: http://www.osce.org/documents/rfm/2005/03/4390_en.pdf

Visit:

- Committee to Protect Journalists Report: http://www.cpj.org/attacks04/europe04/belarus.html
- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media: http://www.osce.org/fom
- Radio Free Europe:
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/3/2348FBE5-432F-4F62-B9D4-09667B20CB8F.html
- Database of Libel and Insult Laws in OSCE Participating States: http://www.osce.org/documents/rfm/2005/03/4380_en.pdf