Lukashenko approves innovations in laws on mass media and mass events. What is changing and when

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a law amending the legislation on mass media, as well as a law introducing changes to the legislation on mass events, according to BelTA.

Amended Law on Mass Media

The list of information prohibited for dissemination by mass media and on internet resources is expanded. In particular, a ban is introduced on publishing the results of public opinion polls related to the socio-political situation, conducted without obtaining the necessary accreditation. The publication of hyperlinks to messages and materials containing information whose dissemination is prohibited is also not allowed.

The Prosecutor General, prosecutors of regions, and the city of Minsk are granted the right to restrict access to internet resources and network publications through which information is disseminated that promotes extremist activities or calls for such activities, as well as other information whose dissemination could harm national interests.

Cases of restricting access to internet resources and terminating the release of mass media are supplemented with the ground of the Interdepartmental Commission for Information Security making a decision on the presence of information messages whose dissemination could harm national interests.

It is established that, along with a court decision, the release of mass media may be terminated by a decision of the Ministry of Information (for example, in the event that a legal entity entrusted with the functions of a media editorial office, or the founder of mass media, or the owner of a network publication receives two or more written warnings).

Measures are envisaged to minimize foreign influence on the Belarusian information market. Thus, regardless of the time of establishment of mass media, foreign legal entities, foreign citizens, and stateless persons, as well as legal entities with foreign participation, cannot act as their founders.

The possibility of revoking a mass media journalist's accreditation is introduced if they or the legal entity entrusted with the functions of a media editorial office have violated the established accreditation procedure, or have disseminated information that is untrue and damages the business reputation of the organization that accredited the journalist, or have committed an intentional unlawful act in the course of their professional activities.

The possibility of restricting access to a copy of an internet resource, access to which was previously restricted, is enshrined.

The main provisions of the law come into force one month after its official publication.

Lukashenko approved innovations in the law on mass events. Changes for organizers, journalists, and more

The notification procedure for organizing mass events is excluded. After the law comes into force, all mass events must be held exclusively on the basis of permission from local authorities.

The collection, receipt, and use of funds and other property, the performance of work, and the provision of services to reimburse expenses incurred due to liability for violating the procedure for holding mass events are prohibited.

A ban is introduced on real-time coverage of mass events held in violation of the established procedure, for the purpose of their popularization or promotion. This ban will also apply to media journalists.

Journalists are prohibited from acting as organizers or participants of mass events while performing their duties.

Local authorities and internal affairs bodies are empowered to suspend the operation of infrastructure (retail facilities, catering facilities, transport, fairs, organizations of all forms of ownership) at the venues of mass events and along the routes of their participants.

The responsibility of political parties and public associations for public calls by their leaders and members of governing bodies to organize and hold a mass event before obtaining permission for its holding is enshrined.

The main provisions of the law come into force one month after its official publication.

Source: belta.by