BAJ: Blocking websites is complete breakdown of law

The blockage of socio-political websites, for which no one has taken responsibility yet, is a complete breakdown of law and order.

It is said in a statement released by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) on December 22.

“There are no any legal grounds to restrict access of Belarusian citizens to information about events in the country,” the BAJ says. “Such actions on the eve of the forthcoming presidential elections in fact deprive electoral campaigns of any sense, because de facto a state of emergency was imposed on information in the country. This totally breaks all international obligations of Belarus in the sphere of free media, and contradicts to the earlier voiced intentions of the authorities to improve relations with the West.”

Attacks on independent media outlets “cause even higher disbelief in what Belarusian official sources claim”, authors of the statement note. “This can only worsen the situation, including the economic conditions. Lack of alternative, professionally prepared information will foster most unbelievable rumors about the real situation in the country,” the BAJ thinks.

The BAJ demands the Ministry of Information, the Operative Analytical Center under the auspices of the President of Belarus, the General prosecutor’s office take all possible measures to restore access to the websites, carry out an inquiry into the unlawful blocking of access to the websites and bring those responsible for the attack to account.

On December 19, access to charter97.org, belaruspartisan.org, udf.by, 21.by, gazetaby.com, zautra.by, belapan.com, belapan.by and naviny.by was restricted without giving any reasons.