Judge Husakova: Narodnaya Volya editorial office doesn’t have a right to go to the law

Judge of the court of Maskouski district of Minsk V. A. Husakou denied the editorial office of the “Narodnaya Volya” and its journalist Maryna Koktysh the right to bring to responsibility the “chamber of representatives” and the Security service of the president.

Judge V. A. Husakova denied the journalist a right to bring to responsibility “the chamber of representatives” for a refusal to accredit Maryna Koktysh for covering events in the parliament. The editorial office of the edition wanted to bring to responsibility the Security service of the president, and was denied as well. The reason is that both the journalist and the editorial office allegedly have no right to go court, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists informs.

As Maryna Koktysh says, there were no hopes from the start that she would be able to condemn deputies of the “chamber of representatives”. But she was really impressed by reasoning of the judge: “in the answer signed by judge Husakova received by me on June 14, it is said that “the court has decided to deny opening the case “Koktysh against the chamber of representatives”. Another thing is surprising: the reason for denial is that I “do not have a right to go to court!”

The same answer was received by the editor-in-chief of the “Narodnaya Volya” Josif Syaredzich on June 16. Mr Syaredzich demanded the court to make the presidential security service answer his letter written 3 months ago. In the letter the editor demanded explanations why the presidential guard prohibited Matyna Koktysh to be present at the sessions of the chamber of representatives. According to the answer, they “do not have such a right”.

Meanwhile, as explained by the deputy head of the Belarusian Association of journalists, a lawyer of the Legal protection of mass media Andrei Bastunets, the right for defense by the court is guaranteed by the Constitution of Belarus. And both private individuals and legal entities have a right for that. “So one cannot that “they do not have such a right”. It is just an unwillingness of the court to start considering this case. As before courts are unwilling to consider addresses of editorial offices of newspapers which have been deprived of subscription opportunities. In this situation the editorial office and the journalist are to address the higher court”.

And they are going to do so. The editorial office of the “Narodnaya Volya” and Maryna Koktysh are to address Minsk city court.

“We believe that the “chamber of representatives” and the security service violate the Belarusian law, and in particular, the Law “On Press and Other Mass Media”, M. Koktysh noted. “We believe that the court should make officials observe the law. Laws are written not only for common people. Officials should be taught to follow them as well. But the court disagrees. We weren’t asking for something extraordinary, only to answer to our letter!”

As we have informed, the primary cause for the suit was a denial to accredit Maryna Koktysh in the “chamber of representatives”. Back in autumn in line with the established procedure the journalist addressed for accreditation in the chamber of representatives. Despite of the fact that Maryna Koktysh had been accredited there for the last several years, she was denied accreditation without explanations. Journalists received an answer not from a speaker, but from the head of the Commission on Human Rights, National Relations and Mass Media Yury Kulakouski. He explained in words that the journalist is banned from entering the House of government.

The editorial office and Maryna Koktysh sent another appeal, and received an answer from Kulakouski again, this time in written form. According to the letter, the decision to deny the right to access the House of Government had been made by the security service of the president.

As informed by Maryna Koktysh to the press-service of the BAJ, the editor of the “Narodnaya Volya” Iosif Syaredzich sent an official address to the head of the Security service of the president Andrei Utsyuryn and demanded explanation. More than 2 months have passed, but the editorial office hasn’t received any answer to their letter.