Security officials to conceal information about loud criminal cases
4- 13.10.2008, 13:14
According to the new decree, mass media won’t be able to receive information about loud criminal cases without a written permission of a judge who is responsible for the case.
The office of the Prosecutor general, the State Control Committee, the Internal Affairs Ministry, the KGB and Justice Ministry have set the order of providing information on high-profile criminal cases and crimes undermining the state regime’s prestige.
This report has been published in the “Jurist” magazine.
By a joint decree of the above-mentioned agencies of 01.10.2008 № 59/4/283/49/52 (Reg. № 8/19576 of 09.10.2008) the high-profile crimes are named the ones which a widely discussed in the press or on websites registered in the Republic of Belarus, and provoking great interest of the population. The crimes undermining the prestige of the state authorities are illegal actions (including the ones related to corruption), performed by state officials, crimes against the state and the procedure of power exercising, public security and population’s health, against peace, security of the humankind and war crimes.
Organs of criminal prosecution and courts are to target the corresponding criminal cases through monitoring of publications and reports in mass media and the web.
The right to furnish with information is given to organs of criminal prosecution and the court only, and their higher organs and courts; and after the verdict’s coming into force to any organ of criminal prosecution or court within their authority.
The decree prohibits furnishing with information on unfinished legal cases without a written permission of a judge responsible for the case. With the aim of providing personal security and prevention of possible interference to the investigation and judicial examination investigator, interrogating officer, prosecutor, judge have a right to prohibit mass media covering that on TV, publishing their pictures and fundamental information.
When it would be established that mass media published untrue facts, an organ of criminal prosecution or a court responsible for this case can demand the editorial office to refute them. And if a publication of inaccurate information repeats several times within a year these, materials are to be sent to the Information Ministry.
