Belarusian authorities “overlooked” international criticism of freedom of speech situation

According to the report of the human rights mission on the situation with freedom of expression in Belarus, the country still falls short of international standards.

In the nearest future the structures of the European Union are to study this document, the European Radio for Belarus informs.

We remind that the mission consisted of representatives of international organisations in the sphere of freedom of press visited Belarus in late September. Experts analyzed laws on press and on counteraction to extremism, lists of “Belsayzudruk”. For three days they met representatives of state and independent mass media, officials. The results of their visit are published in a 40-pages report.

As said by the International Federation of Journalists’ European Co-Director Marc Gruber, the document calls for a set of reforms dealing in particular with economic conditions for non-state media, access to information, accreditation of media and journalists as well as broadcasting licensing.

“I think that by this statement and report we have said: we are here not to criticize or complain, but to make expert examination and discuss how the situation could be changed for the better,” Gruber said.

Marc Gruber noted that now the EU structures can use the report in order to form the policy towards Belarus. He says that there was no reaction to the document from the side of the Belarusian authorities.

“Yes, they have the statement. And I think they have the report too. It is a concern of the Belarusian authorities to show interest,” said IFJ European Co-Director.

Mr Gruber does not exclude that in the future he might face problems with receiving a Belarusian visa.

“It is hard to predict,” Marc Gruber said. “One person was even denied a visa, when we were traveling in the bus with the mission in September. Though we are not dangerous people. We have come only to talk, so I do not understand what problems there might be”.