Information minister ignores unpleasant questions from ERB

Belarus's Informatio Minister Uladzimir Rusakevich today held an on-line press conference on the site of the official news agency Belta. Visitors were on Tuesday invited to send in their questions. The European Radio for Belarus also sent several questions, but the minister did not "notice" them.

Below are the questions from the European Radio for Belarus:

1. What is your attitude to the searches at the apartments of independent journalists on March 27 and March 28, 2008?

2. Do you know which the state-run media will receive the seized equipment?

3. The press offices of some government agencies reject questions from our colleagues working with the foreign media. The media are officially registered in their countries and operate legally. Our colleagues are denied information on the grounds that they have no accreditation in Belarus

4. Ahead of the Journalists' Solidarity Day, we would like to ask when journalists in Belarus will stop being separated into the state ad the non-state press and will have equal working opportunities?

5. Will the journalists working with the European Radio for Belarus, Belsat and Radio Racyja be accredited if they file their applications for accreditation?