Belposhta: "Regional newspapers have not been mentioned yet…”
ERB has found out that the authorities are not going to return all the other independent mass media to the system of distribution alongside with “Nasha Niva” and “Narodnaya Volya”. Actually, “Belposhta” has not received such permission from “higher instances”. It has become known recently that two independent republican newspapers “Narodnaya Volya” and “Nasha Niva” will return to “Belsayzdruk” news-stalls and become available in subscription catalogues of “Belposhta”. Meanwhile, more than a dozen regional and republican newspapers are deprived of this possibility.
The publisher of “Hazeta Slonimskaya” Victar Valadashchuk informed ERB that he had sent letters to “Belsayzdruk” and “Belposhta” asking for cooperation in the middle of September. He received the answer only from “Belposhta”. The answer was no. He has not received any reply from “Belsayzdruk” yet. The reaction of state institutions made the publisher of “Hazeta Slonimskaya” and his colleagues form other editions turn to the head of the President’s Administration.
Victar Valadashchuk: “All editors-in-chief of independent newspapers signed the letter addressed to the head of the President’s Administration Mr.Makei a week ago. We described the current situation – newspapers do not have the right to be distributed in “Belsayzdruk” news-stalls and do not have access to the republican and regional subscription catalogues. However, we have not received any reply yet”.
According to the editor, he phoned heads of regional affiliates of “Sayzdruk” and “Belposhta”. They seemed to be eager to restart cooperation but are waiting for permission of “higher instances”. So it’s not their administration that has to allow it.
Vіctar Valadashchuk: “It has to be decided in Minsk, in the President’s Administration. If they allow the other newspapers to work like they did before 2006, then all newspapers will return to the subscription catalogue and to “Belsayzdruk” news-stalls. It depends of higher state officials”.
“The Belarusian Association of Journalists” that initiated the appeal of editors-in-chief is also waiting for the reply of the President’s Administration. The chairperson of “BAJ” Zhanna Litvina says that she expects to get a positive answer but cannot to predict what will happen.
Zhanna Litvina: “Two editions returning to the system of distribution is not a solution to the problem. It is a system problem concerning almost two dozens independent editions. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict what will happen”.
“Belposhta” confirmed that the issue of distribution of independent mass media was being solved by higher instances in an interview with ERB. According to the deputy head of the subscription department of “Belposhta” Aksana Chychko, they received the permission to include “Narodnaya Volya” and “Nasha Niva” in the subscription catalogue from “higher instances”. However, the other newspapers were not mentioned.
Aksana Chychko: “We have received two letters and they (“Narodnaya Volya” and “Nasha Niva” – author) have been included in the catalogue. The others have not been mentioned yet”.
Let us remind you:
According to the BAJ press service, the following republican newspapers do not have the possibility of distribution in “Sayzdruk” news-stalls: «Tovarisch», «Novy Chas». Regional editions deprived of the opportunity are: «Bobruisk Courier», «Borisovskie novosti», «Vitsebsk Courier M», «Volnae Hlybokaye», «Gazeta dlya Vas» (Іvatsevіchy), «Hazeta Slonіmskaya», «Hantsavіtskі chas», «Intex-press» (Baranavіchy) and «Nyasvіzhskі chas».
The following newspapers are not included in the subscription catalogue: «Tovarishch», «SNplus. Svobodnye novosti plus», «Novy chas», «Borisovskie novosti», «Vitebsk Courier M», «Volnae Hlybokae», «Hazeta Slonіmskaya», «Gantsavіtskі chas» and«Intex-press».
Independent regional newspapers “Lyahavitski Chas” and “Myastsovy Chas” (Pinsk) had to stop working due to the impossibility of normal distribution in 2008. The following editions disappeared for the same reason (and due to the problem of printing in Belarus) earlier: «BDG Delovaya gazeta», «Salіdarnasts», «Information exchange» (Hrodna), «Mestnaya gazeta» (Vaukavysk), «Himik» (Navapolatsk) and some others.
The publisher of “Hazeta Slonimskaya” Victar Valadashchuk informed ERB that he had sent letters to “Belsayzdruk” and “Belposhta” asking for cooperation in the middle of September. He received the answer only from “Belposhta”. The answer was no. He has not received any reply from “Belsayzdruk” yet. The reaction of state institutions made the publisher of “Hazeta Slonimskaya” and his colleagues form other editions turn to the head of the President’s Administration.
Victar Valadashchuk: “All editors-in-chief of independent newspapers signed the letter addressed to the head of the President’s Administration Mr.Makei a week ago. We described the current situation – newspapers do not have the right to be distributed in “Belsayzdruk” news-stalls and do not have access to the republican and regional subscription catalogues. However, we have not received any reply yet”.
According to the editor, he phoned heads of regional affiliates of “Sayzdruk” and “Belposhta”. They seemed to be eager to restart cooperation but are waiting for permission of “higher instances”. So it’s not their administration that has to allow it.
Vіctar Valadashchuk: “It has to be decided in Minsk, in the President’s Administration. If they allow the other newspapers to work like they did before 2006, then all newspapers will return to the subscription catalogue and to “Belsayzdruk” news-stalls. It depends of higher state officials”.
“The Belarusian Association of Journalists” that initiated the appeal of editors-in-chief is also waiting for the reply of the President’s Administration. The chairperson of “BAJ” Zhanna Litvina says that she expects to get a positive answer but cannot to predict what will happen.
Zhanna Litvina: “Two editions returning to the system of distribution is not a solution to the problem. It is a system problem concerning almost two dozens independent editions. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict what will happen”.
“Belposhta” confirmed that the issue of distribution of independent mass media was being solved by higher instances in an interview with ERB. According to the deputy head of the subscription department of “Belposhta” Aksana Chychko, they received the permission to include “Narodnaya Volya” and “Nasha Niva” in the subscription catalogue from “higher instances”. However, the other newspapers were not mentioned.
Aksana Chychko: “We have received two letters and they (“Narodnaya Volya” and “Nasha Niva” – author) have been included in the catalogue. The others have not been mentioned yet”.
Let us remind you:
According to the BAJ press service, the following republican newspapers do not have the possibility of distribution in “Sayzdruk” news-stalls: «Tovarisch», «Novy Chas». Regional editions deprived of the opportunity are: «Bobruisk Courier», «Borisovskie novosti», «Vitsebsk Courier M», «Volnae Hlybokaye», «Gazeta dlya Vas» (Іvatsevіchy), «Hazeta Slonіmskaya», «Hantsavіtskі chas», «Intex-press» (Baranavіchy) and «Nyasvіzhskі chas».
The following newspapers are not included in the subscription catalogue: «Tovarishch», «SNplus. Svobodnye novosti plus», «Novy chas», «Borisovskie novosti», «Vitebsk Courier M», «Volnae Hlybokae», «Hazeta Slonіmskaya», «Gantsavіtskі chas» and«Intex-press».
Independent regional newspapers “Lyahavitski Chas” and “Myastsovy Chas” (Pinsk) had to stop working due to the impossibility of normal distribution in 2008. The following editions disappeared for the same reason (and due to the problem of printing in Belarus) earlier: «BDG Delovaya gazeta», «Salіdarnasts», «Information exchange» (Hrodna), «Mestnaya gazeta» (Vaukavysk), «Himik» (Navapolatsk) and some others.
