BAJ: Blocking Of Charter-97 Violates Rights Of Belarusians

The Minsk city court has dismissed the complaint in connection with the blocking of the independent website.

The Minsk city court has dismissed Vitsebsk human rights activist Pavel Levinau’s complaint against the decision of the Tsentralny District Court, which had not considered the complaint against the Ministry of Information in connection with the blocking of Charter-97, the baj.by website reports.

In January, the Ministry of Information restricted the access of Belarusian readers to the most visited independent website. At that, the Ministry did not even explain what its claims were and what materials in particular had become the objective basis for blocking.

Vitsebsk human rights activist Pavel Levinau believes that by this decision the authorities violate his right to receive information. That is why the member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists has filed a complaint against the decision of the Ministry of Information with the court. On February 8, the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk denied Levinou initiation of proceedings in connection with the alleged non-jurisdiction of the case to the court.

On Thursday, March 29, the Minsk City Court considered the complaint against this decision. The Vitsebsk human rights defender explained his arguments to the highest court once again. The Belarusian Association of Journalists also joined the case, its representative expressed the public opinion. The position of the organization on this case is unambiguous: the state body has limited the citizen's right to receive information from the Charter97.org site, so a citizen must have the right to appeal this decision.

However, neither Pavel Levinau’s arguments, nor the position of the Belarusian Association of Journalists were heard – the court dismissed the complaint.

We remind that on January 24, Lukashenka's regime blocked the independent information resource Charter97.org. The blocking was confirmed by first deputy minister of information Ihar Lutski. The Ministry of Information is headed by Aliaksandr Karliukevich.