HR Defender Levinau Sues Ministry Of Information For Blocking Charter97.org

Pavel Levinau demands to cancel the blocking of the independent website.

Vitsebsk human rights activist Pavel Levinau in his complaint to the court of the Central District of Minsk notes that the blocking of the information resource violates his right to receive information and is an unacceptable restriction of freedom of thought and expression, contradicts the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Constitution of Belarus, Radio Liberty reports.

Pavel Levinau writes that the decision to restrict access to the site was made allegedly because Charter97.org published certain information, the dissemination of which is prohibited by Article 38 of the Law of Belarus on the Mass Media. However, the ministry did not explain anywhere what materials were the basis for blocking and did not refer to any court decisions or decisions of other bodies regarding the restriction of access to the resource.

The human rights activist writes that he is a regular reader of the Charter97.org website and counts on the protection of his interests by the court of the Central District of Minsk, recalling that «Article 60 of the Belarusian Constitution guarantees everyone protection of his rights by a competent and independent court».

In a complaint sent to the court, he asks to recognize that the decision of the Ministry of Information violates his rights and demands that this decision should be revoked. He also demands that the Ministry should present information about the grounds for the decision to block the informational resource.

The blocking of the website Charter’97, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, was condemned by many international organizations, journalists, politicians and human rights activists all over the world.