BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

9 December 2005

U.S. Urges Belarus To Reject Law Against Criticism of Government

Bill seems aimed at intimidation, "stifling free speech," State Department says

Washington - The United States is urging Belarus to reject a draft law making it a criminal offense to spread false information or engage in foreign contact that internationally discredits the government.

"This bill seems clearly aimed at intimidating Belarusian citizens and stifling free speech as the country approaches presidential elections in 2006," the State Department said in a written response to a question taken at the December 8 daily press briefing.

"The United States joins the European Union in once again expressing concern about developments in Belarus," the statement said. "The provisions of the bill amending the penal code appear to violate international norms and many of Belarus' human rights commitments, including the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression."

The United States "calls on the Belarusian authorities to respect democratic values and the rule of law, so that the rights of Belarusian citizens are fully respected," the statement said. The wording of the written response echoes a December 2 statement by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack when the Belarusian National Assembly gave preliminary approval to the law. (See related article.)

Regional news accounts December 8 said the upper house of parliament -- the Belarus Council of the Republic -- had unanimously approved the measure. The country's lower house approved the measure December 2.

According to the Interfax news agency, the text of the draft law says "the dissemination of deliberately wrong information about the political, economic, military or international state of Belarus and the legal status of Belarusian citizens, in a way that discredits Belarus or its authorities, to a foreign state, a foreign or international organization" would be a criminal offense. Those convicted "shall be punished with six-month arrest or up to two years in jail," the bill says. The bill stipulates similar sentences for "appeals to a foreign state or international organization" that would be deemed damaging to the government, according to the news agency. (See related article.)

The State Department's written response to the question taken at the December 8 daily press briefing is available on the department's Web site.

Source:

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=December&x=20051209130249mvyelwarc0.232052&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html