We protest against cancelling of freedom of speech

In connection with the adoption of the shameful Law on Mass Media in the second reading by the “house of representatives”, which among other actions tries to restrict freedom of speech in the Belarusian Internet, the Belarusian Association of Journalists non-governmental organisation calls on all journalists and bloggers, working in by.net, to join a one-day action “Hour of Silence”.

The BAJ calls on everyone, who is not indifferent to the problem of access to information and its spreading, post black banners to their websites as a symbol of freedom of speech, buried in the Oval Chamber. The BAJ also calls not to update their websites, do not write blog posts during an hour – from 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm on 25 June.

The Charter’97 press center joins the protest action against final cancelling of the freedom of speech in Belarus.

By this way we express protest against urgent adoption of the Law on Mass Media without public hearings and international expert evaluation.

By this way we respond the authorities to their statement that the adopted law concerns only journalists.

By this way we let the by.net users to see, threat of closing down numerous news resources, sources of

independent information on the Internet is real as never before.

Let’s express our solidarity!