Council of Republic approves media legislation

The Council of the Republic, the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Belarus, today approved the media law draft, passed by the House of Representatives earlier this week. Alexander Lukashenka is required to sign the bill for official enactment.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists received the text of the draft just some days before it was considered by the parliament. Media experts and lawyers came to a conclusion that if enacted, the law would give a terrible blow to independent media and bring them to the edge of destruction.

Journalists are especially concerned that the authorities will be able to block all the web-based media, not registered in Belarus as media organization.

Under the draft, the operation of a printed media organization can be suspended after just one warning from the Ministry of Information, any judge, prosecutor or even a local council official.