Department ideology Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed the local newspapers, who is a member of the staff of the BAJ, and who are going to join the "unwanted" organization. Individual journalists summoned to the Executive Committee for an explanation on membership in the NGO "Belarusian Association of Journalists". Colleagues agreed that this curiosity certainly linked to the upcoming elections.

Into account the "ideologists" primarily members were friendly meeting Vitebsk journalists held late last year. It was attended by members and BAJ, and just fellow journalists.

"However, the executive committee seems to be "enrolled" in the BAJ of all without exception - says journalist Elena Stepanova. - At least, I called a few people who are members of the public association "BAJ" have never been, but said that they have received and reproaches. Someone warned about the danger of joining the "undesirable" organization zhurili someone for participating in a "Bad Meeting" New Year's Eve. Colleagues had to explain that they are not going to the meeting, since there is no separate city Vitebsk branch of the NGO "Belarusian Association of Journalists". And it was the usual pre-holiday friendly meeting over tea, where people shared their plans and talked about some professional problems, and then listened to the song George Stankevich, bard of Beshenkovichi."

Previously, no such meetings have curiosity ideology department executive committee did not cause. Membership in the NGO "Belarusian Association of Journalists" is not particularly criticized even journalists from state media. Another matter that monitored the activities of independent journalists, for example, last year the Regional Prosecutor's Office issued a warning for cooperation with foreign media without accreditation journalist Vladimir Zhigulou, the year before received such a warning Alena Stepanova. In 2013 against the journalist was initiated administrative proceedings on the same charge, but the court refused to hear the case, considering the material collected insufficient.

This year several Vitebsk journalists expressed their desire to join the BAJ. This circumstance, as well as the fact that the front - the local elections, which will be covered by both state and independent media, colleagues explain the desire to control the executive committee membership in this organization. And as much as possible - do not allow an increase in the number of members of the BAJ in Vitebsk.

Human Rights Center "Viasna"