Another Newspaper Evicted In Belarus

The crackdown continues. This time an independent newspaper dared to protest in favor of a
free press.

The editorial office of the independent Pinsk-based newspaper “Myastsovy Chas” (publishing house “Intex-press”) has received a written notification from the administration of the hotel “Sport”, that the tenancy contract would be cancelled starting from January 31, 2006. The administration of the hotel belonging to the Belarusian Defence and Sports Technical Society (BelOSTO) does not provide any reasons for its decision.

The term of the tenancy contract between the administration of the hotel and the editorial office is to expire in July 2006. The editorial office pays rent and community facilities regularly, and the renter had never had any complaints.

The editor-in-chief of the newspaper Viktar Yarashuk views that as another move of the local authorities aimed at stifling the independent newspaper. Pinsk regional printing office denied concluding a contract with the newspaper; Pinsk branch of the “Belsajuzdruk” refused to cooperate with the newspaper. The “Myastsovy Chas” has not been included to the catalogue for subscription in the year 2006, and postal offices un Pinsk refuse to subscribe readers for the newspaper. In this connection the editorial office of the newspaper in its issue of December 8 addressed its readers with a proposal to take legal action against postal workers, who violate constitutional rights of citizens for receiving information, and also the Belarusian “Law on press and mass media”. (emphasis mine)

Keep up the mantra: "Oh, but he provides stability!" Would you take the life of a mindless robot in return for a lower crime rate?