The United States Government would like to join the European Union, Canada, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, in expressing its concern about the state of freedom of the press in Belarus. The recent sentencing of newspaper editor Viktor Ivashkevich to a two-year prison term for allegedly defaming President Lukashenko during last year’s presidential campaign is of particular concern.

But this decision is only the latest in a series of troubling judicial decisions which serve to suppress freedom of the media. Early in September, two journalists for the banned newspaper Pagonya began serving 12- and 18-month sentences for libeling President Lukashenko. On September 12, the Minsk city court upheld a multimillion-ruble fine against the Nasha Svaboda newspaper for defaming a government official.

The sentencing of Mr. Ivashkevich is a violation of Belarus’ OSCE commitments to freedom of expression and freedom of the media. We join the EU and others in calling on the government of Belarus to review this case and others as soon as possible. We also call on the government in Minsk to review national laws on libel and slander to ensure they are being applied in compliance with OSCE standards in order to safeguard free speech and freedom of the press.

Mr. Chairman, an OSCE presence in Belarus could provide a platform for assisting Belarus in addressing these concerns. However, since the AMG has not been permitted to function, we consider it necessary to address such concerns about Belarus more regularly at the Permanent Council. We would welcome any information you can provide about progress in resolving the problem OSCE faces with Belarus over the future of an OSCE presence in Minsk.