RSF: Belarusian media under pressure ahead of elections

International press freedom Reporters without Borders notes an increased pressure on the Belarusian press ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. The statement was issued by August 17, reports Belarusian Association of Journalists. "The warnings, tax inspections and police raids prove that the freedom of press is Belarus is jeopardized. Two newspapers -- Narodnaya Volya and Nasha Niva -- can be closed down after receiving several warnings from the Ministry of Information, under Article 51 in the Media Law, which allows the authorities to close down a media organization after two warnings", RSF stressed.

RSF also recalled the police raids to the editorial offices of Narodnaya Volya in the winter and spring of 2010, when computers were seized from journalists. The latter were also interrogated in connection with the criminal case on slander against a special service official.