CPJ: Charter97.org and other sites should be unblocked immediately

The Committee to Protect Journalists urges to stop repression against the independent media in Belarus.

It is said in a statement of the international human rights organisation that was sent to charter97.org.

“Belarus is already one of the world's most repressive societies, and the new amendments to the country's media law add further restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression," CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, Nina Ognianova, said. "Since traditional news outlets have been subdued, the government has turned to censoring the Internet--the last remaining space for independent news and views in Belarus. We call on the government to scrap these restrictions."

The Belarusian “parliament” adopted amendments to a restrictive media law last week, and Aliaksandr Lukashenka signed them on December 20, according to news reports, CPJ writes. The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the broad and vaguely worded provisions of the law, which extend restrictions on the traditional press to the online media. The amendments will be implemented on January 1.

“The amendments come as authorities on Sunday blocked several independent news websites, including the independent Belarusian news website Charter 97, and Internet portals in apparent retaliation for their coverage of citizens' reactions to the depreciation of the Belarusian ruble. The websites, which were blocked independent of the law, are still inaccessible.

We call for access to independent online news platforms to be restored immediately in Belarus. Blocking outlets that report facts unpalatable to the government won't make those facts disappear,” CPJ's representative said.

Charter97.org remains blocked in Belarus for the fifth day. Read here how to get access to the website.