Democratic forces demand to stop blocking of Charter’97 and other independent online media

On December 22 during another session of the Seven of the democratic forces, a joint statement against internet censorship in Belarus was signed.

The statement was signed by the leaders of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, the United Civil Party, the Belarusian People’s Front Party, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), “Tell the Truth” campaign and “For Freedom” movement. The Belarusian Leftist Party “Just World” is to make a decision about joining the statement in the near future.

A number of joint pickets in the regions and a meeting have been also planned, charter97.org was told by the press-service of the BCD.

“Starting from December 19, the most popular independent online media in Belarus were blocked without a reasonable basis. Most of them stay still unavailable in the territory of the country. In particular, access to websites charter97.org, belapan.com and belapan.by, naviny.by, belaruspartisan.org, udf.by, 21.by, gazetaby.com, zautra.by, racyja.com was blocked without giving reasons.

We, the undersigned representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces, voice an objection against the unprecedented censorship in the Belarusian internet. The crackdown on independent mass media on December 19, 2014 could be compared to the crackdown against the civil society of Belarus on December 19, 2010. In just one day in terms of freedom of the internet Belarus descended to the level of China, Iran and Cuba.

The most popular independent websites were blocked, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, internationally recognized human rights and the laws of Belarus are being violated.

We are urging all the democratic forces of Belarus range to defend independent mass media. We are urging citizens of Belarus to express solidarity with journalists by disseminating information about how blocking could be bypassed.

We demand the Belarusian authorities to return the freedom of the internet to Belarus. we call upon all human rights organisations, government of democratic countries of Europe to pay attention to direct attention to another blow on freedom of expression in Belarus and to support Belarusian journalists.

We state that restoring political contacts of European politicians with the Belarusian regime which have been taking place over the recent months unfortunately have not resulted in improvement of the situation in Belarus, but was viewed as a silent agreement to further intensification of crackdown on democratic community, on the Belarusian people. We urge the world community not to make concessions to the regime, which contradicts basic European values, and call for an adequate reaction on the part of the world community, international human rights organisations, the international community of journalists.

We urge everyone who cares about the future of Belarus, both inside of the country and abroad, to stand united to defend independent Belarusian mass media.

To defend independent press is to maintain independent Belarus!” the statement reads.

The statement is signed by:

Co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Vital Rymasheuski,

Chairman of Tell the Truth Movement Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu,

Deputy Chairman of “For Freedom” Movement Yury Hubarevich,

Chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka,

Chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Alyaksei Yanukevich,

Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Iryna Veshtard