Belsayazdruk and Belposhta refuse to distribute Novy Chas again

The independent newspaper Novy Chas has been refused distribution by state networks again. Both Belsayazdruk and Belposhta have refused to cooperate with the edition.

The newspaper staff sent applications to both networks on August 12, editor-in-chief for Novy Chas Aksana Kolb wrote. They wanted to be able to sell the newspaper at Belsayazdruk kiosks and to include it in Belposhta’s subscription catalogue. “The newspaper supports and promotes the state policy in the field of protection of Belarus’ independence and the Belarusian language”, the editorial staff wrote in the applications. “Novy Chas is one of the few editions fully printed in Belarusian. We are hoping that the Year of Culture announced by the President in 2016 will be a good reason to start our long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Nevertheless, Belzayzdruk wrote one sentence in response to it – they simply refused to distribute Novy Chas. Belposhta replied that it was not obliged to include the edition in its subscription catalogue.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Alena Kupchyna used to promise to protect the edition. “However, the MFA seems less influential than the Ministry of Information now. The election is over and Europe will recognize it somehow. And it seems that there is enough Belarusian language,” Aksana Kolb noted with sadness.