Belarusian Christian Democracy Party: We must protect Charter-97

With the closure of the Charter-97 in Belarus a new wave of repressions will take place.

It is said in the statement of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (BCD).

The BCD draws attention to new repressive laws of Belarusian authorities against the independent media, which give the right to close the independent news web portals such as charter97.org.

"The destruction of Belarusian information resources, especially those who are operating abroad and have no right to act in Belarus, jeopardizes the very possibility of Belarusian society democratization and violates the constitutional right to receive free information. Independent media both allow receiving unbiased information and promoting the protection of the citizens against the actions of corrupt officials and repressions provided by the authorities.

With the charte97.org suppression, one of the most popular independent web portals, a new wave of repressions against Belarusian citizens is going to start.

Deprivation of the right to independent information opens up the possibility for totalitarian propaganda, manipulation, distribution of enmity towards people of different social groups, nationalities, religious groups. Russia is a case in point.

The BCD calls all Belarusian organizations, governments of all democratic states, human rights organizations to stand for the press, make every effort to avoid the destruction of independent resources.

The BCD calls to prevent blocking of Internet resources and to stop persuasion of independent journalists, to provide independent media (Belsat TV, Radio Racyja and others) with accreditation, and we encourage the public to show solidarity with the journalists.

We must stand for our independent media as with its destruction the regime will have its hands more free in inflicting reprisals on everyone and everything: workers, business sphere, students, religious groups and so on.

Belarus will be able to become a free country only with freedom of the press! " the statement says.