Publisher deprived of license for publishing Belarus Press Photo 2011

The private entrepreneur Lohvinau was informed on September 23 that his license for publishing activities had been withdrawn.

The document was signed by Liliya Ananich, deputy of the Minister of Information. The license was withdrawn because of "rough violations of the legislation on licensing". The matter deals with publishing of the Belarus press Photo 2011 photo album which had been recognized extremist by the Ashmiany court on April 18, 2013.

"We think that the license had been suspended unlawfully, with many violations, so we have already sent a letter to the Minister of Information Aleh Praliaskouski," said a representative of the publishing company.

According to Andrei Bastunets, the deputy chair and lawyer of BAJ, the law does not entitle the Minister of Information to taking such measures, and also the procedure of license suspension has been violated.

"I would like to draw attention to the fact that when the publishing house was not involved in the Belarus Press Photo 2011 case in any status. But now the decision of the trial has been made the ground for withdrawing the license," remarked the lawyer. "If the Ministry does not change their mind, the situation can be resolved only in court."