H. E. Alexander Lukashenko
President of Belarus
Office of the President
Minsk
Republic of Belarus

Vienna, 20 March 1996

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute strongly condemns the sacking of Nikolai Galko, editor of Belarus’ s leading daily newspaper.

We are informed that Mr. Galko, editor of the parliamentary daily Narodnaya Gazeta, was dismissed by Your Excellency because of a “failure to carry out his duties.” Narodnaya Gazeta has criticised the state of the media in Belarus, as well as Your Excellency’s drive to re-unite the country with Russia. Mr. Galko has been in his job for only a year. His predecessor was also sacked by Your Excellency. We understand that staff at the paper are refusing to work with a new editor appointed by Your Excellency.

We believe that this latest dismissal is part of a determined attempt by Your Excellency to crush what is left of a free press in Belarus. At least five editors of Belarussian newspapers have been dismissed by Your Excellency since you took office in July 1994, while some opposition newspapers have been barred from printing in Belarus and are published in neighbouring Lithuania.

IPI, a global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, strongly urges you to ensure that Mr. Galko is re-instated in his position. We further urge you to end the campaign of harassment being waged against Narodnaya Gazeta in particular and Belarus’s independent press in general.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director