European Commissioner Johannes Hahn Responded To Charter-97 Editor-In-Chief Natallia Radzina

The EU calls on the Belarusian authorities to ensure unhindered access to the Internet.

During the last visit to Minsk and talks on the expansion, EU Commissioner for the European Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn received a letter from Charter97.org editor-in-chief Natallia Radzina, in which the journalist called on the European Commissioner to demand from the Belarusian authorities to stop immediately the blocking of the Charter97.org website and the repression against independent media in Belarus. The letter was signed by the leaders of the Belarusian opposition political parties and organizations, who attended the meeting with Hahn.

On April 26, Natallia Radzina received a letter from the head of the Cabinet of Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Michael Karnitschnig, saying that the EU Commissioner for the European Neighborhood Policy and the talks on expansion condemns the repressive measures against Belarusian independent media.

Here is the full text of the letter:

"Dear Mrs. Radzina

On behalf if Commissioner Hahn I would like to thank you for the letter handed-over during his mission to Minsk with regard to the blocking of the independent news website Charter97.org by the Belarusian authorities on 24 January 2018. We take good note of your concerns and assessment of the difficult situation of the media freedom in Belarus.

I would like to reassure you that the EU engages with Belarusian authorities on all appropriate occasions as regards questions related to human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular to media freedom. The EU repeatedly called on the Belarussian authorities to ensure unrestricted access to the Internet. In this context, continued support for independent media will remain essential. We are very much aware that several independent-media organizations are working hard to achieve meaningful results in promoting critical thinking and democratic values.

During his recent visit to Minsk, Commissioner Hahn underlined to the Belarussian authorities at the highest level that these repressive actions are contrary to the international commitments made by Belarus, such as those under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. Additionally, during the last meeting of EU-Belarus Coordination Group (Brussels, 19-20 December 2017) and the EU-Belarus Human Rights Dialogue (Brussels. 20-21 July 2017), the EU highlighted the need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of speech, expression, and of media.

I would like to reassure you that further development of relations between the EU and Belarus will depend on Belarus taking further tangible steps to respect human rights, universal fundamental freedoms, and strengthening the rule of law in the country. The EU's principled position on the freedoms of speech, expression and of media as fundamental rights of every human being will remain high on the EU-Belarus bilateral agenda."