Reproduction of old poster from Belarus. Photo: IMS

While much of Europe celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the freedoms that followed in the wake of this, not all countries of the former eastern bloc can claim ascension into democracy. “There is a need for international pressure to focus on human rights in Belarus,” says Andrei Aliaksandrau of the Belarus Association for Journalists

The dramatic events of 1989, and the unraveling of the Soviet Union in 1991, marked the end of an era of Communist rule and the beginning of democratic development in a number of countries. But 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Belarus remains behind the last iron curtain in Europe.

“Belarus has not felt the winds of change”

International Media Support spoke to Andrei Aliaksandrau, newly elected Vice Chairman of the Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ) about the direction of Belarus on freedom of speech and democracy since the remarkable changes that gradually rolled through the rest of Europe after the fall of the Wall.

- Belarusian civil society regards the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall as an important one. This event marked the beginning of a new era in Eastern Europe. But I feel we have not benefited from the winds of change like our neighbours, says Andrei Aliaksandrau.

- There is still a long way to go for democracy, freedom and human rights in our country. We were optimistic when the EU and Belarus human rights dialogue started last October [2008]. Representatives of independent media felt there could be serious changes on the way to improve the situation of the press.

-  But our hopes have not come true and the situation has been gradually worsening. The police have started using violence again to keep journalists from doing their job, he adds.

Ideological departments control access to information

In October 2009, 13 press freedom organisations, including International Media Support, presented the EU with a report titled “For Free and Fair Media in Belarus” recommending an overriding reform of Belarus media law. The report based on discussions with both Belarus authorities and journalists documented a number of oppressive provisions taken in use by authorities to silence oppositional or alternative voices in the media.

So-called governmental ideological departments around the country control the media’s access to public information. Other obstacles include unequal economic conditions between state and non-state media, state-controlled subscription and distribution systems which limit access for non-state media and restrictions on accreditation for local and foreign media.

Change, but little improvement

- In general there have been changes to the situation of media, but not improvements. The situation as a whole was frozen, Andrei Aliaksandrau explains.   

- Before, the regime was just there. There was no activity, no room for movement, no contact between the authorities and civil society. Now at least there is the possibility of change, to talk to the authorities although negotiations have not led to anything as of yet. But this is where the real change has been. At least now authorities and civil society are speaking.  

Andrei Aliaksandrau himself is a journalist and newly elected Chairman of the Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ). IMS collaborates with BAJ in Belarus on the legal protection of journalists when needed and training to improve professional skills and ethics.

-  We fight for the rights of the media, train and educate journalists. We do this whatever the situation is, says Andrei Aliaksandrau.

Polical pressure from the outside needed

The report “For Free and Fair Media in Belarus” has yet to elicit an official response from the Belarus authorities, but when questions about what he feels countries outside Belarus could do to push democratic development and freedom of speech forward, he says:

- Political pressure to focus on human rights is one. The EU – Belarus dialogue centres mostly on economic development and loans, but political pressure from outside should help push human rights and civil society development to the top of the agenda and Belarus towards European values.

Finally, he adds:

- What matters the most however is the the internal dialogue between civil society and the authorities. Here we still need foreign organisations as mediators.

To read the press release and the report “For Free and Fair Media in Belarus”, click here.