Belarusian officials to adjust statements for mass media
Belarusian officials will have to submit their statements for the press to the approval of their superiors. It became known after the House of Representatives had adopted amendments to a number of laws on public service in the first reading. According to them, free statements of officials for the press are forbidden. They will have to receive the approval of the head of their department or the approval of a special person assigned for it.
The deputy chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, a lawyer Andrey Bastunets, commented on the innovation:
“This project is a violation of the Constitution, namely of art. #34 that guarantees anyone the freedom of expression”.
According to Bastunets, a similar thing happened in the middle of the 1990s. At that time it was the government’s initiative. Now a ban on contacts with the independent press will be confirmed by the law.
The deputy chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, a lawyer Andrey Bastunets, commented on the innovation:
“This project is a violation of the Constitution, namely of art. #34 that guarantees anyone the freedom of expression”.
According to Bastunets, a similar thing happened in the middle of the 1990s. At that time it was the government’s initiative. Now a ban on contacts with the independent press will be confirmed by the law.
