BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/06/2008

Belarus media bill to extend Internet regulation

Authorities in Belarus have adopted a new media bill that extends media regulation on the Internet.

The bill may change registration procedures for many media outlets as well as online media. Under article 10 of the existing law, media are required to register with local authorities, helping officials block controversial outlets. Under the new law, they would have to register again within one year.

Journalists not accredited with the government would be prohibited from working with foreign media outlets, and Belarusian media would not be permitted to receive funding from foreign organizations.

Last year, the Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ) asked the parliament's human rights and media committee to examine whether new laws extending media regulation violate the constitution, but the committee refused at that time.

For more information, visit http://www.rsf.org/articlephp3?id_article=27550.

Source:

http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=307864&LID=1

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