Decree on Internet comes in force, charter97.org called to prosecutor’s office

Natallya Radzina is to appear in the investigation department of the Minsk prosecutor’s office on July 1.

Journalist of charter97.org website Natallya Radzina had a phone call in the morning of June 30 from Viktar Feshchanka, a depute chief of the investigation department of the Minsk prosecutor’s office, who said she was to come for questioning at 12.00 noon tomorrow as a witness, but didn’t say in what criminal case. As Feshchanka told the journalist: “There are some questions in respect of the information that you administer the website charter97.org.”

The investigation department deputy chief told the call wasn’t connected with the criminal case on libel against former head of the Homel region KGB department Ivan Korzh. The journalist is a witness in this case; also, charter97.org office was searched and 8 computers were seized in this case.

“As we can see, prosecutors are ordered to struggle against independent journalists from the first day of Lukashenka’s decree on Internet censorship operation. On March 16, our office was searched, all computers were unlawfully seized, I was beaten. I have been called in for interrogations three times in connection with the criminal case on libel, which became another reason for pressing the independent media. The authorities decided to open another front on July 1. They decided not to shelter behind libel criminal cases, but say directly – it is because you write the truth on the Internet. These actions are obviously connected with the upcoming presidential elections and Andrei Sannikov’s intention to run in the elections. Whatever the authorities do, they cannot force us to stop our activity. We have written the truth and continue to write it,” Natallya Radzina said.

We remind that the scandalous decree on National Segment of the Internet signed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka comes into effect on July 1. The decree is criticized by the Belarusian media community and international human rights groups, including the OSCE. Independent experts have no doubts that Lukashenka’s decree is aimed at blocking opposition web resources during the electoral campaign.

One of the clauses which causes concern is: “Upon the request of a user, providers of Internet services effect services limiting access to information which is aimed at extremist activities”. It is known that Belarusian authorities often accuse the opposition of “extremism”.