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Leader of journalist association sounds alarm over authorities’ move to close down prominent papers

The leader of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) on May 6 sounded an alarm over the government’s move to close down the prominent private newspapers Narodnaya Volya and Nasha Niva.

While handing out awards to the winners of Volnaye Slova (Free Speech), the organization’s contest for reporters, at a ceremony in the UK embassy in Minsk, Zhanna Litvina described the two papers as the “pride of independent journalism in Belarus” and urged media to express solidarity and come out in support of the embattled publications.

Ms. Litvina accused the authorities of pursuing a “harsh and revengeful” policy toward independent media outlets and referred to the criminal cases against journalists Iryna Khalip, Syarhey Vaznyak and Andrzej Poczobut.

The ongoing crackdown on independent reporters is evidence that it is getting increasingly difficult for the authorities to control public conscience and sentiments, the BAJ leader stressed.

“In this period of social stress a war has been declared above all on free speech, free information devoid of censorship. We are noting incredible demand for this free information,” she said, adding that independent newspapers were increasing their print-runs, while news websites were attracting more and more visitors.

The UK charge d’affaires, for his part, said that the embassy was proud to provide support to independent media by hosting the ceremony. The diplomat stressed that the diplomatic mission was aware of the problems experienced by independent reporters in Belarus. //BelaPAN