Lukashenka Stuck in the Age of Birch Bark Manuscripts

Only a fool could come up with the decree on the digital economy in dictatorial Belarus.

On April 19 the "House" adopted scandalous amendments to the law on mass media which tighten censorship on the Internet and require mandatory registration of Internet users.

Leonid Zaika, head of the "Strategy" Analytical Centre expressed his attitude to the tightening of censorship over the Internet in an interview with Charter97.org.

- In terms of our power, nothing unusual happened. For example, in the Middle Ages those who had their own opinion had no birch bark to write on. It seems that our government, led by Lukashenka, is stuck in the era of birch bark manuscripts.

The new law on mass media is a ridiculous attempt to counteract the development of the information society. Because the Internet itself is a phenomenon, which is a completely free, open platform. And it does not tolerate administrative interference.

And to be involved in catching unfortunate girls who comment on forums about lipstick is not serious.

I can assess this situation with a historical retrospective. I had to register print publications in the early 90s; then everything was very democratic. From the mid-90s the "tightening of screws" has been practiced, but then the Internet appeared and all attempts of the authorities collapsed. Now we see that they have begun to "torpedo" the Internet.

The conclusion is simple: the worse things are going on in the country, the more restrictive media laws are adopted. But it will not improve the situation.

- How will the new law on mass media affect the fate of the so-called "digital economy" announced by a separate decree?

- Some fools drew up the text of this decree! "The decree on the development of the digital economy"... Only a fool could come up with something of this kind! I do not specifically mean Aliaksandr Ryhoravich, he might signed it without being into it (laughs)...

The whole economy is digital now. Only bribes are beyond it. This decree is so ridiculous that I wish not to comment on it. All processes have long been "digitized" witihn the ordinary economy.

And if we consider that "digital economy" is to send a table to a boy in the Ministry of Economy, then, of course, a separate decree is needed. To get the better of themselves with their ridiculous ideas.

The digital society does not require any interference. The best thing people who invent decrees and amend the law of the media can do is to step aside, not to stand on the way of the locomotive.

And the main thing - do not bother the Internet. For some reason, it has become the symbol of freedom and idiocy in Belarus. To pursue commentators on it is to prove their stupidity. As a result, fools will still be fools: but they will be the ones who pursue commentators on the Internet.

- The new decree on mass media of Belarus almost coincided with the attempt of Russia to block Telegram.

- Many books were banned in the USSR. At the same time I literally "basked" in anti-Soviet literature having "political defects". The thing is that I wrote a dissertation about Western European political thought.

So, that literature, in fact, bore no threat to the Soviet authorities. But the fact that it was prohibited just caused distrust in the authorities.

And blocking of Internet resources is the same thing. Cavemen bother the progress. Guys, let's better develop than ban.

It will be recalled that on April 19 the so-called "House of Representatives" adopted scandalous amendments to the law on mass media, which finally destroy freedom of speech in Belarus. Amendments introduce mandatory registration of Internet news resources. Owners and journalists of not registered Internet resources have no right to acquisition and protection of information, and are equated to protesters in case of participation in mass events.

A mandatory identification of persons who post materials or comments on forums and Internet resources is introduced." That is, editors of the Internet media working in Belarus will be forced to provide special services with data of their journalists and readers who comment on articles. It is allowed to block social networks and restrict access to Internet resources in an extrajudicial manner.

Experts called amendments "the strike against independent journalism" and "new tightening of screws".

On the eve of adoption of amendments to the law on mass media the largest independent website Charter97.org was blocked in Belarus.