BAJ Urges Minister of Information to Quit Post :: Charter'97 :: News

The Belarusian Association of Journalists called on the Minister of information Mikhail Podgainy to give up his high post. In an open letter to the Minister they underscored that his Ministry, endowed with great authority, is turning into a tool of suppressing rights and freedoms.

The last proof of that is the position of the Ministry of information concerning the shutdown of the “Svobodnye Novosti” periodical. BAJ Council calls “indirect censorship” any reprimands, passed by the Ministry of information against a range of non-state editions, which drives them to the edge of extinction. “Your claims about your devotedness to the democratic values aren’t backed by the real actions. If you are unable to ensure the preservation of lawfulness in the media sphere or at least to fulfill your own promises, you should file in resignation,” – reads the address of the Belarusian Association of Journalists.