World shocked by total lawlessness in Belarus
- 22.03.2010, 12:59
Leading mass media of the world write about the attack on journalists in Minsk, saying that it could be a mopping-up operation in the run-up to the presidential election.
Belarusian journalists feel pressured by law-enforcing agencies of the country again. Experts believe that actions of Belarusian police are unlawful, and searches and arrests of journalists which have become more frequent, are nothing else but a mopping-up operation in the informational space in the run-up to the presidential election in 2011, "Voice of America" reports.
In the last few weeks cases of persecution of journalists representing independent mass media have become more frequent. A number of independent journalists, and some informational publications have been seized their professional eqcuipment, in some cases law-enforcers used violence against journalists. The flat of the leader of civil campaign "European Belarus" Andrei Sannikov and his wife, journalist Iryna Khalip, was searched, searches were held in the flats of "Narodnaya Volya" journalists Maryna Koktysh and Svyatlana Kalinkina.
However, as noted by "Voice of America", particular shock in the civil society and among those who know about charter97.org website, one of the most influential sources of infromation about Belarus, was caused by actions of special services against the editorial office of this website. 8 system blocks were seized from the news office o the site, which would make work oà the website much more difficult in the near future. The editor-in-chief oà the website Natalya Radzina was beaten by police.
The recent actions of Belarusian authorities are aimed at supression of activities of some oppositional journalists, Andrei Sannikov, leader of "European Belarus" civil campaign and a presidential candidate said to "Voice of America". "I think that it has become clear to everyone already that not simply an offensive, but a campaign aimed at destroying of freedom of speech and Belarusian independent journalism in general is taking place now," Sannikov said.
The leader of "European Belarus" Andrei Sannikov
The leader of "European Belarus" agrees that "mopping-up before the presidential elections" in Belarus has started.
To "Voice of America's" request to comment on the situation with persecution of journalists in Belarus, Belarusian Embassy in Washington denied an answer referring to absense of "competent people" who would be able to do that.
BBC radio station also informs that on Tuesday representatives of Belarusian secret services held an operation against censorship-free charter97.org website and a number of independent journalists.
French radio RFI informs that human rights organisation of the world condemn repressions of Belarusian authorities against the journalist community. Searches are held under the pretext of a "defamation case'. Human rights activists state that it is nothing more than a pretext. And the smear war is a secondary affair to their mind. Andrei Sannikov is convinced that such behaviour is typical for the present Belarusian authorities, but "exacerbation" takes place in the run-up to major political campaigns.
Natalya Radzina, Charter'97 website editor-in-chief after beating by policemen who held a search in the news office of the online publication (Photo by International French radio RFI)
Now a local councils election campaign is underway in Belarus, but the main thing is that the presidential election is coming. Andrei Sannikov has stated that he plans to run for presidency, RFI notes.
A large Polish TV channel TVN24 also reported about the raid of police and special services against charter97.org, noting that Natalya Radzina says that there is a connection between the search and seizure of office ecquipment of journalists with the fact that "Lukashenka fears freedom of speech and a serious contender in the upcoming presidential elections". The TV channel reminds that a day before the searches the leader of "European Belarus" Andrei Sannikov declared his intention to become a presidential candidate.
A major Plish newspaper "Gazeta Wyborcza" writes that the leader of "European Bbelarus" civil campaign Andrei Sannikov condemned searches held in Minsk in news offices of independent mass media and in the places where independent journalists live. Sannikov and the editor of the news portal charter97.org Natalya Radzina stated on Tuesday that wide-scale searches in flats of opposition leaders in Belarus have nothing in common with the criminal case to whihc policemen are referring to when holding searches. According to Sannikov, the so-called "hunters' case" which essence is a conflict between Belarusian law enforcing structures, police and the KGB (State Security Comittee), is just a pretext for attack on freedom of speech.
A Polish newspaper Rzecz Pospolita also writes that "seizure of the editorial office of charter97.org portal was no mere chance. A day before, on Monday, the website informed that the leader of "European Belarus" civil campaign would run for presidecy.