Zhanna Lіtvіna: Security agencies feel the threat of the Internet
The chairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina discussed the current status of independent mass media, the cooperation of journalists from state and independent editions and the role of the Internet is spreading of the freedom of speech in Belarus on the eve of the International day of Freedom of Speech. ERB: How do you assess the status of Belarusian independent mass media today?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: Unfortunately, there is a strange situation observed nowadays, I should say there is some split in the journalists’ community. Even if the word is not accurate, we can see that part of Belarusian journalists are engaged and work for state mass media and they have their own understanding of the role and place of mass media in the society. The other part is independent - they have problems with access to information and with free distribution of independent newspapers. I think that independent journalists are people sticking to the standards of journalism and ethic norms in their work. There is a top priority in our society toady – a goal to be reached to handle the situation. It is denationalization and demonopolization of mass media, the destruction of the state monopoly for information. We can hardly expect any changes in the awareness of the society until this top priority is reached.
ERB: Is there any progress in the development of relations between independent and state mass media?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: Every member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists has some friendly relations with colleagues from state mass media. However, unfortunately, there is a global problem – protecting our professional rights – we do not seem to be able to reach such a consolidation, in the noble sense of the word, such a corporate solidarity. We even have different holidays. Half of journalists celebrate the International day of Freedom of Speech on May 3 while the other half celebrates the Day of the Press. We should struggle with it somehow. It should not be like this and it cannot be like this.
ERB: How should the denationalization of mass media be performed?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: There should be a legal base created for it in the first place. The processes of denationalization and demonopolization took place in our neighbouring countries such as Russia and Ukraine. Unfortunately, the Belarusian press is still controlled by the executive power. Even the statements recently pronounced by the head of the state testify to the fact that not many things are going to be changed in the near future. Let me quote: “Mass media should be controlled by the state for the sake of citizens. It is because mass media have the most destructive weapon at their disposal”.
ERB: How do you think, is the work of independent Belarusian mass media abroad necessary and what goals do they set?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: I will not conceal the fact that I am an adherent of mass media registered and working abroad for Belarus. Unfortunately, there are no signs of any future changes in the country itself. That is why all radio stations including “European Radio for Belarus” and radio “Ratio” and the only independent TV Channel “Belsat” – are extremely important for me, they are sources of non-censored information. They have to assume the functions of agencies distributing information. It's quite another matter that experts sometimes complain about the low efficiency of such mass media. However, there are some objective reasons for it. In order to become really effective, they should be able to be retransmitted in Belarus, to install their transmitters here. The unexampled action against independent journalists working for such mass media without any accreditation conducted by KGB on March 27 testifies to their efficiency. By the way, we are still waiting for a reply from KGB and the General Office of Public Prosecutor. We demand to return the equipment and other information materials confiscated during the searches. We demand to establish a principle of appeals for accreditation of journalists cooperating with independent mass media in our country and to stop the persecution of independent journalists.
ERB: What do you think about the project “On information, informatization and protection of information”?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: I would discuss the Internet in a wider sense. It is indeed a sphere where we can observe a free circulation of information, information is not controlled there. Our security agencies must have felt the threat of the Internet. The project of the decree on legal regulation of the Internet gives a lot of concern. The thing is there was a special commission created to study the experience of the legal regulation of the Internet a year ago. The project of the decree is the result of its work. The fact that our websites may acquire the status of mass media is the most worrying. As soon as they acquire the status, we will witness a wide practice of applying articles of the Criminal Code and the whole Belarusian legislation to the people working on websites. The other thing is the character of registration of websites. Whether it is going to be obligatory or whether it is going to be performed on the basis of appeals. Anyway, it is clear that a mechanism of controlling the Internet is being worked out.
Photo by "Nasha Nіva"
Zhanna Lіtvіna: Unfortunately, there is a strange situation observed nowadays, I should say there is some split in the journalists’ community. Even if the word is not accurate, we can see that part of Belarusian journalists are engaged and work for state mass media and they have their own understanding of the role and place of mass media in the society. The other part is independent - they have problems with access to information and with free distribution of independent newspapers. I think that independent journalists are people sticking to the standards of journalism and ethic norms in their work. There is a top priority in our society toady – a goal to be reached to handle the situation. It is denationalization and demonopolization of mass media, the destruction of the state monopoly for information. We can hardly expect any changes in the awareness of the society until this top priority is reached.
ERB: Is there any progress in the development of relations between independent and state mass media?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: Every member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists has some friendly relations with colleagues from state mass media. However, unfortunately, there is a global problem – protecting our professional rights – we do not seem to be able to reach such a consolidation, in the noble sense of the word, such a corporate solidarity. We even have different holidays. Half of journalists celebrate the International day of Freedom of Speech on May 3 while the other half celebrates the Day of the Press. We should struggle with it somehow. It should not be like this and it cannot be like this.
ERB: How should the denationalization of mass media be performed?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: There should be a legal base created for it in the first place. The processes of denationalization and demonopolization took place in our neighbouring countries such as Russia and Ukraine. Unfortunately, the Belarusian press is still controlled by the executive power. Even the statements recently pronounced by the head of the state testify to the fact that not many things are going to be changed in the near future. Let me quote: “Mass media should be controlled by the state for the sake of citizens. It is because mass media have the most destructive weapon at their disposal”.
ERB: How do you think, is the work of independent Belarusian mass media abroad necessary and what goals do they set?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: I will not conceal the fact that I am an adherent of mass media registered and working abroad for Belarus. Unfortunately, there are no signs of any future changes in the country itself. That is why all radio stations including “European Radio for Belarus” and radio “Ratio” and the only independent TV Channel “Belsat” – are extremely important for me, they are sources of non-censored information. They have to assume the functions of agencies distributing information. It's quite another matter that experts sometimes complain about the low efficiency of such mass media. However, there are some objective reasons for it. In order to become really effective, they should be able to be retransmitted in Belarus, to install their transmitters here. The unexampled action against independent journalists working for such mass media without any accreditation conducted by KGB on March 27 testifies to their efficiency. By the way, we are still waiting for a reply from KGB and the General Office of Public Prosecutor. We demand to return the equipment and other information materials confiscated during the searches. We demand to establish a principle of appeals for accreditation of journalists cooperating with independent mass media in our country and to stop the persecution of independent journalists.
ERB: What do you think about the project “On information, informatization and protection of information”?
Zhanna Lіtvіna: I would discuss the Internet in a wider sense. It is indeed a sphere where we can observe a free circulation of information, information is not controlled there. Our security agencies must have felt the threat of the Internet. The project of the decree on legal regulation of the Internet gives a lot of concern. The thing is there was a special commission created to study the experience of the legal regulation of the Internet a year ago. The project of the decree is the result of its work. The fact that our websites may acquire the status of mass media is the most worrying. As soon as they acquire the status, we will witness a wide practice of applying articles of the Criminal Code and the whole Belarusian legislation to the people working on websites. The other thing is the character of registration of websites. Whether it is going to be obligatory or whether it is going to be performed on the basis of appeals. Anyway, it is clear that a mechanism of controlling the Internet is being worked out.
Photo by "Nasha Nіva"
