Andrei Bastunets: “Law enforcement bodies won’t give information about high-profile cases”

Journalists regard a new regulation, defining an order of informing the public about high-profile cases, as a new round of censorship.

So, deputy head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Andrei Bastunets thinks, a real ground for the regulation was the case of 4 July blast on Victors Avenue. The authorities violated the law when investigation this case that was reported by independent media. The expert thinks it was decides to restrict the possibilities of media.

“I think that journalists of state-controlled “Sovetsakya Belorussia” or first channel wil receive this permission. But journalist of independent media will hardly get it, moreover, written permission. This is made in order not to let independent media criticise the authorities,” Andrei Bastunets said.

“What are the most high-profile cases? The ones, which are interesting for people, about which people want and have the right to receive information. These are cases of the blast, murders of journalist Charkasava, missing politicians, “human shield”. In my view, the case of the human shield would have been buried and wouldn’t have been go to court, if it hadn’t been for public interest. This regulations is directed against the things, interesting for the public,” the journalist added.

Andrei Bastunets said this regulation violated a number of laws, regulating activity of journalists, lawyers and other persons, involved in covering of court cases.

It should be reminded that the General Prosecutor’s Office, the State Control Committee, the Ministry of Internal Affaires, the KGB, and the Ministry of Justice defined an order of giving information to media about criminal cases of much publicised crimes and crimes, undermining prestige of the state power.

According to the new regulation, media won’t be able to receive information about high=profile criminal cases without a written permission of a judge, viewing the case.