Litvina: Supreme Court has banned operation of independent journalists

The reason is the court has banned the journalistic association to write the word "press" on the association membership IDs. In the view of BAJ chairperson Zhana Litvina, freelance journalisst who are not employed as staff with editorial offices will not be able to work properly, because any official will not to a person who cannot present a press card. "The bottom-line is that the Supreme Court has confirmed a ban on the word "press". Talking more globally, this is a ban of the operation of independent journalists and independent media organizations. The reasoning of the court is that only a professional journalist can work in the professional journalism. It means that only the employed staff -- and it is even better a staff with the state-owned media, then it is fine!", she said.

According to Litvina, the Supreme Court has violated Article 34 in the Constitution that guarantees our citizens to gather, store and disseminate information.



Besides, under the court ruling, BAJ will not be able to provide legal support to media organizations, because the warning says that the operation of the Law Center for Media Defense at BAJ confronts with the statutes of the organization.

BAJ cannot appeal the ruling but can still approach the chairman of the Supreme Court in order to supervise the ruling. Moreover, BAJ will appeal to the international community.

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Photo: Zmitser Lukashuk