Is communist newspaper “Tovarishch” banned?

Court of Svetlahorsk fined of 40 basic unites local democratic activists - leaders of the district Party of Communists of Belarus Svyatlana Mikhalchanka, activists of the Belarusian Popular Front and the United Civil Party Viktar Akhramchuk and Syarhei Shavyalenak.

On October 27, militia detained a car with oppositionists. They were seized officially registered “Tovarishch” newspaper and agitation posters of MP candidate Syarhei Daineka, representative of the United Democratic Forces, and some copies of unregistered editions “Glotok Vozdukha” and “Vybory-08”, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee reports.

The activists were detained and accused of distributing editions without imprints and misuse of freedom of media.

However, the trial failed to prove that “Glotok Vozdukha” and “Vybory-08” had been distributed, as neither persons who received or were supposed to receive the editions nor distributors were found.

Though “Tovarishch” newspaper is officially registered, the court made an accusation.