1999 press releases

Government Strikes at Independent Press (October 8, 1999)

The United States believes that recently increased harassment of independent media in Belarus represents an escalation of efforts to silence the free press in violation of Belarus' commitments in various OSCE documents and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR.)

In the last two weeks, Belarusian authorities have closed nine opposition publications. The State Press Committee of Belarus issued an edict annulling the registration of nine publications for allegedly failing to provide documents showing their addresses. Among those targeted in this manner were "Naviny" and "Kurier Navagrudski." A tenth newspaper is also threatened with closure due to alleged tax regulation violations. These actions follow a campaign of harassment by the authorities of other independent papers, non-governmental organizations, and the political opposition that has included unwarranted detentions and disappearances.

The United States calls on Belarus to cease repression of the free press and to abide by the commitments it voluntarily took on as a  participating state in the OSCE and as a party to the ICCPR, and to rejoin the democratic revolution that is taking place among its neighbors.