Last week the management of Autoradio FM-radio station from Minsk received an official warning from the Ministry of Information.
Although the text of the warning contains no reference to any particular violation, it can be linked to the EuroZoom radio program that was produced by the independent European Radio for Belarus (ERB) and then broadcasted daily by Autoradio. According to the Ministry, the warning was issued for ‘falling short of the creative concept of broadcasting.’ 
According to Yury Bazan, the General Manager of Autoradio, on 29 September the radio station received a phone call from the Ministry of Information with a request to present audio files of EuroZoom for ‘monitoring.’ The program is a joint project of ERB and Autoradio, sponsored by the European Commission. The next day the station was officially warned. The Ministry suggests the radio station ‘make steps to keep to the creative concept of its broadcasting,’ otherwise its license can be cancelled.
Mr Bazan sent a letter to the Ministry with a request to clarify the essence of the warning. The Autoradio manager also stressed that until the station receives a proper answer from the officials the EuroZOOM broadcast will remain halted in order to save this project in general:
“On one hand we are risking to lose a broadcasting license, on the other we are breaching the contract with EuroRadio and, consequently, with the European Commision.”
Andrei Bastunets, a Vice Chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, commented on the situation:
“The concept of the program was approved by the European Commission. The warning of the Ministry of Information is some kind of an answer of Belarus to a suggestion for cooperation of the European Union.”
He also regarded this incident as ‘unacceptable interference of the state in the media activity.’
Majority of independent newspapers out of subscription catalogues
The Ministry of Information confirmed that it was not planning to increase a number of independent newspapers in state subscription catalogues. The officials believed that these publications did not have sufficient readers in order to be present in catalogues. 
Ministry’s opinion was presented at a press-conference for the upcoming International Postal Service Day.
During the press-conference Nina Haurylava, vice-minister, declared that there were no ministry approved plans to expand subscription catalogue with independent publications and further explained:
“I think that it is not such a scary thing. When we were analysing how many publications were actually distributed we saw only five, six, ten, may be, twelve of them. And what is a point, financial benefit, from these publications to State Postal Service? Just to have them on our list?”
In 2005 more than 15 country-wide and local socio-political publications were excluded from the subscription catalogue of State Postal Service. Amongst them were Viciebski Kurjer, Tovarishch, Naša Niva, Narodnaja Vola, Bobruyskiy Kuryer, Svobodnyje Novosti Plus, Intex-press and others.
This year Naša Niva, Narodnaja Vola, and Bobruyskiy Kuryer were returned into catalogues. However, according to Sviatlana Kalinkina, Narodnaja Vola, the newspaper distribution makes up a half of all publication costs.
12 independent socio-political publications are still out of the State Postal Service calalogue.
Andrei Aliaksandrau, BAJ vice-chair, saw politically motivated agenda of ministry’s decision and commented on hampering of independent newspapers liberalisation efforts:
“There were no real economical reasons behind ministry’s decision. Obviously, it was a political decision in action since 2005. Perhaps, there are certain, but very superficial, steps made to foster the EU-Belarus dialogue. Several newspapers are back in distribution. But the rest are kept by the state as hostages to exchange for economical benefits.”
