The Millstone Around Russia

Michael Hedges June 23, 2008

Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – all on Russia’s edge – are pushing media repression to new lows. With all broadcasting and most print media firmly under State control, the Web is the current target. Dictators on Russia’s borders perplex even Russian media.

The lower house of the Belarus Parliament – the Chamber of Representatives - passed a bill (June 17) that will “significantly harden independent media work, and they’ll be put on the verge of extinction,” said Belarus Journalists Association spokesperson Yuri Toparashev, quoted by Russia Today. Private Belarus news agency BelaPLAN said the secret vote overwhelmingly favored the measure 93 to 1. The lone hold-out couldn’t be identified and it was suggested that the lawmaker “simply pressed the wrong button.”

The bill would require all media organizations to register within a year with the Ministry of Information and to re-register when changing address. Without registration publishing “information to the public” would be illegal. With one warning from either the Information Ministry or a prosecutor any media organization can be shut-down after one warning. Presently shut-down can be prescribed after two warnings.

The law would apply to all media, including online services of existing media outlets and independent websites, said Ministry Deputy Lilia Anatich, reported by DPA. A different government spokesperson – presidential administrative deputy Natallya Pyatkevich – told a different story; websites would not be required to register, according to RFE/RL. Earlier Anatich explained the need to control ”disinformation from foreign sites,” reported AP. She complimented “the experience of China, which has closed access to such sites on its territory.”

The bill contains the usual post-Soviet vagaries. Punishments can be exacted for “distributing false information that can cause damage to state or public interests” and “distorting generally established language standards.” Reporters, it appears from reading the Information Ministry’s statement, can be punished for refusing to “distribute information,” all the better to get those official press released printed. Advertising is also mentioned, banning ads for “psychotropic substances.”

A significant word jostling in the new rules ends Belarusian journalists’ slim rights, placing them firmly under State control. Previously, rules said, “journalists have the right to obtain accreditation from state agencies.” Now it’s, “state agencies may provide accreditation.”

Despite total government control of media in Belarus, websites have been reasonably accessible sources for differing points of view. This chaos so unhinged Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko that he complained of “the anarchy of the internet.” And so, all internet access passes through State-run telecom Beltelcom and the State security apparatus. Registering websites is just step one.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited with President Lukashenko (June 22) for a little pep-talk on economics. Belarus is completely dependent on Russia for energy supplies.

A Council of Europe sponsored ‘Conference on Democratization of the Mass Media in Belarus’ was held in Warsaw, Poland June 6th and 7th. “Is this a nightmare where we have returned to a place in Europe, to Belarus, during the time of the cold war where everything had to be controlled, forbidden, repressed?” asked Conference of INGOs vice president Jean-Marie Heydt opening the conference.In the requisite closing resolution the conference called government control of independent media in Belarus “severe.” Monitors will be appointed.

Continued internet censorship in Uzbekistan brought protests from media observers. Several websites that cover Uzbek news launched a media campaign - called “Website is Blocked in Uzbekistan” – in conjunction with the June 27th Press and Media Worker Day. Russia Today reported the protests in a story (June 20) headlined “Gagged! Uzbek protests web censorship.”

Following a 2005 uprising near the Uzbek city Andijan authorities imposed strict controls on media and journalists, foreign and local. Websites critical of Uzbek powers-that-be are blocked.

Uzbekistan hosted its own media conference June 9th and 10th, labeled “Freedom of mass media in the modern democratic society.” When originally proposed it was to have European Union (EU) backing, complete with international participation. But, alas, the EU and significant NGOs backed out, participation dwindling to the usual post-Soviet toadies…with one notable exception. OCSE media freedom representative Miklos Harazti attended and said, “Uzbekistan goes on the way of democratization and liberalization and the country undertakes all the necessary measures to prevent any obstacle to develop free mass information.”

Last week Harazti (June 17) issued a statement expressing “concern” over the suspicious arrest of independent Uzbek journalist Solidzon Abdurakhmonov. He also criticized an Uzbek State TV program repeatedly broadcast through the Tashkent conference that accused Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) Uzbek service reporters of “anti-state activities.” The program also revealed personal details of RFE/RL reporters’ families.

"These assaults on free reporting,” said Harazti, “are especially regrettable as Uzbek authorities told me during my visit last week that they were ready to start the much-needed reforms of the media governance in the country."

The Slovenian EU Presidency issued a statement (June 19) sharing Harazati’s “…view that immediately freeing all persons imprisoned for expressing critical views and permitting the return of foreign media outlets to Uzbekistan would be important first steps toward compliance with OSCE commitments.” The statement noted the “inconsistency” between Harazati’s consultation with Uzbek authorities and the “continuing harassment of journalists.”

Kyrgyzstan president Kurmanbek Bakiev signed into law (June 3) amendments to the country’s media law. The amendments were passed by the Kyrgyz Parliament April 24. Three years ago, about the time of the Andijan riots, President Bakiev indicated a willingness to loosen State control over public media. The new amendments seem to go the other direction. President Bakiev gave himself the authority to name the executive director of State radio and TV TRT. Radio and television stations will now be required to produce more than 50% of their own programming – ending re-broadcasts of foreign channels – and 50% of programming must be in Kyrgyz or Russian. The 2005 riots and subsequent casualties in and around Andijan, which sits astride the Uzbek and Kyrgyz borders, remain contentious for both countries. Several Kyrgyz broadcasters offer programming in the Uzbek language and fear the new rules will force their closure. Noting those concerns, President Bakiev, on signing the new rules into law, offered to “consider every remark and suggestion and to submit appropriate recommendations to the government.”

A week ago (June 14) Kyrgyz police raided the newspaper De Facto, confiscating computers, after it published a report accusing a tax official of extortion. The newspaper was closed and its founders charged for complaining about the raid.

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