OSCE media freedom representative concerned over possible closure of two independent newspapers in Belarus

VIENNA, 28 April 2011 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, expressed alarm today over the lawsuits filed by the Belarusian Information Ministry aimed at shutting down Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya, two of the country’s largest independent publications.

“This move by the Belarusian government to silence a few remaining critical voices will further diminish media pluralism in the country,” said Mijatović.

She also stressed that the continuing crackdown on independent media and journalism after the December election violates core OSCE media freedom commitments and is unacceptable in an OSCE participating State.

The lawsuits filed by the Information Ministry to the Supreme Economic Court on 25 April followed several warnings about their reporting of the 11 April Minsk metro blast and the protest rally after the 19 December 2010 presidential election.

The Representative’s Office continues to monitor the developments closely.