His "complaint against a public authority, violating the right to freedom of expression" Paul Levinau sent Pervomaisky district court of Minsk. He asks the court to order the National State TV and Radio Company to give him the opportunity to speak on the TV channel "Belarus 1".

In this way, Vitebsk human rights activist wants to exercise their right to refute the information disseminated in the TV program "Club of Editors' 7 February (repeated on February 9), which, in his opinion, untrue and humiliate his honor, dignity and business reputation.

The release said the TV program, which was mainly devoted to the problems in Ukraine for nearly three minutes of the meeting discussed the Belarusian human rights defenders from the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus, Miklos Haraszti, held in Vilnius. During the discussion on the air to give negative assessment of actions of human rights defenders.

Thus, the BTRC chairman Gennady Davydko repeatedly spoke disparagingly of human rights defenders, calling them "so-called human rights activists" who have something invested "it [Miklos Haraszti] there in the ears." A TV program guest, the deputy of Minsk city council Giorgi Atamanov, used the phrase "human rights punks."

Paul Levine, who was one of the participants of the Belarusian human rights defenders from the UN Special Rapporteur, considered that the statements made on state television, not only untrue, but also insulted him personally:

"I am engaged in human rights work more than 40 years, is a member of the Republican human rights public association" Belarusian Helsinki Committee "and representative associations in the city of Vitebsk and Vitebsk region. All that was made in the television show "The Club of Editors' believe is untrue and offensive to my honor and dignity. False information on human rights defenders, about our place and role in the Belarusian society, the information that we are "human rights punks" and what we were doing some manipulation with the ears of a special rapporteur whose mandate was introduced by resolution of the Human UN human."

Before you apply to the court, Paul Levinau tried to resolve the issue by addressing directly at BTRC. He relied on Article 41 of the Law "On mass media", in accordance with Paragraph 1 which individuals have the right to demand from the legal entity which is entrusted with functions of the editorial board of the media, refuting common information if this information is not true, humiliate their honor and dignity or reputation. However, the management response to the demands of BTRC human rights activist refused.

Also Levinau hoped to enlist the support of the Ministry of Interior. It was written statement to the police in which a human rights activist asked the participants to bring TV shows that have made incorrect statements in the air, to the administrative responsibility under article 9.3 of the Administrative Code ("insult"). But the police does not help.

Now the situation is to understand the court which is to give an answer to how the requirements of Vitsebsk human rights activist are reasonable and fair.

Vitebsk Spring