Amendments in media law pass first reading

The House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly has approved the changes to the Law on Mass Media in the first reading.  98 MPs voted pro, 2 voted contra and 2 people abstained. The law was presented by Minister of Information Alyaksandr Karlyukevich. One of the key innovations is the mandatory identification of users posting comments on websites.

A special commission will consider the remarks and suggestions (prepared by MPs and the Belarusian Association of Journalists) before the second reading. Minister Karlyukevich is going to meet with BAJ chairperson Andrei Bastunets and discuss the suggestions. The date of the second reading is yet to be scheduled.