Brestskaya Gazeta (Russian: Брестская газета) is a non-governmental newspaper from Brest, Belarus. Its first number came on November 18, 2002. The main language of the newspaper and its website is Russian, but some stories are written in Belarusian.[4][5] Its latest issue is dated December 30, 2020.[6]

Brestskaya Gazeta
TypeWeekly newspaper
FormatA3
Owner(s)"Brestskaya Gazeta" LLC (Limited Liability Company)
Editor-in-chiefViktor Marchuk
Founded18 November 2002
Political alignmentIndependent.[1][2][3]
LanguageRussian, Belarusian
HeadquartersBrest, Kuibyshev street, 13, 8a, 224016, Belarus
Circulation5230 (December 2020)
Websiteb-g.by

Format and content

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The first issue of Brestskaya Gazeta was published on 12 pages. The maximum volume during the publication of the newspaper was 40 pages.[7] Brestskaya Gazeta came out weekly on Thursdays. The first and last pages were two-color (black + red).

By the end of 2020, Brestskaya Gazeta was published on 24 pages. The publication has positioned itself as a newspaper for the whole family, which publishes a variety of information not only about Brest and the Brest region, but also about the country and the world as a whole.[8] Each issue had a TV program (38 channels), a crossword puzzle, a horoscope, anecdotes, advertising. The main editorial rule is not to impose its opinion on the reader so that they can draw their own conclusions.[8] The target audience of the newspaper is the younger generation.[9]

State pressure

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It has been writing about the 2020 Belarusian protests and 2020 Belarusian presidential election, so several journalists of the Brest newspaper have been tried and arrested for that.[10][11][12][13][14] In October 2020, the newspaper joined a common statement by the Belarusian Association of Journalists and private media companies on the pressure of TUT.BY and restricting access to independent websites.[1][2] The newspaper took a strong civil position against violence in covering the Belarusian protests, started subscribing political prisoners to itself, writing them letters and publishing their answers.[15]

At the end of November, it became known that the Brest Regional Printing House, where the newspaper had been printed for all 18 years, for no reason refused to print the outlet starting in 2021; the fax was signed by Vyacheslav Shakhlevich, director of the printing house.[16]

The United Mass Media requested Shakhlevich, the Brest City and Regional Executive Committees, and the Ministry of Information to make possible to change the decision that created "troubles for the well liked private regional publication."[17] Chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Andrey Bastunets said that the troubles made to Brestskaya Gazeta support the government' pressure on the regional news media, as "the fact that this is happening at the level of economic entities should not deceive anyone."[18]

In order to avoid penalties in connection with the non-guaranteed delivery of the circulation, it was ultimately decided to abandon Belpochta's subscription services for the first half of 2021.[19][20] On January 19, 2021, it became known that Brestskaya Gazeta was temporarily suspending its publication due to the fact that all the Belarusian printing houses refused to print the newspaper.[21][22]

On July 8, 2021, the office and the apartments of its contributors were searched.[23][24] The grounds for the raids were unknown, but two days later Brestskaya Gazeta informed that all the technical devices from the office and its journalists' were seized.[25]

A court in Brest added the newspaper’s website to the list of extremist materials in November 2021, and its Telegram channel in April 2022.[26]

In 2023, the KGB designated Brestskaya Gazeta as an extremist group. Participation in an extremist group is a criminal offense under Belarusian law.[27]

Critical response

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According to the teacher of the Faculty of Journalism of the Belarusian State University Daniil Shavrov, the newspaper compares favorably with a high share of analytical materials against the background of other publications in the Brest region. Such articles have a different geographic focus, both republican and regional, which makes them potentially interesting for any audience. The columns of the editor-in-chief Viktor Marchuk were positively assessed, articles by a number of other authors of the newspaper are cited as examples.[9] Lawyer and political prisoner Maxim Znak wrote in a letter to the editorial office in January 2021 that he is proud of the newspaper's staff, “which was nearby in the most isolated spaces” and “did not betray themselves, because the newspaper could probably publish something that would be printed but hardly read."[28]

Awards

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  • Diploma of the Brest Regional Executive Committee "For a constructive approach to covering various spheres of life in the region" (2010).[29]
  • The award of the chairman of the Brest regional executive committee "For an active journalistic position" to journalist Zhanna Sidoruk (2011),[30] who handed it over to the family of activist Ivan Stasyuk, who was detained on the eve of the action "Revolution through social networks" and was arrested for 10 days for disorderly conduct and insubordination to police officers.[31]
  • Diploma for the first place in the nomination "The best journalistic investigation and feedback from readers" of the competition "The best regional newspaper of the year 2013", organized by the Association of Regional Press Publishers «Belarusian: Аб’яднаныя Масмедыі».[32]
  • III degree diploma in the nomination "The best analytical material" of the competition "The best regional newspaper 2015", organized by the Association of publishers of regional press «Belarusian: Аб’яднаныя Масмедыі».[33]
  • Victories in the nominations "Best Regional Newspaper of the Year", "Best Journalistic Investigation" (Lyudmila Selekh and Alla Verstova), "Best Social Action of the Year" of the "Best Regional Newspaper 2018" competition organized by the Association of Regional Press Publishers «Belarusian: Аб’яднаныя Масмедыі».[34]
  • Winning the nominations "Best Investigative Journalism and Feedback from Readers" (Kristina Goloviychuk for a series of articles about the starving brothers), "Education and Culture" (Irina Shatilo, "I bought antiseptics at my own expense"), "Belarusian language" (Maria Malyavko, for the series of articles «Belarusian: Мова перамен») of the competition of the Association of Publishers of Regional Press «Belarusian: Аб’яднаныя Масмедыі» "The Best Regional Media" in 2020.[35][36]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Друкарня адмаўляецца друкаваць незалежную "Брэсцкую газету"" (in Belarusian). European Radio for Belarus. 2020-11-30. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  2. ^ a b "Типография отказывается печатать независимую "Брестскую газету"" (in Russian). European Radio for Belarus. 2020-11-30. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Report Submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in Accordance with Sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as Amended. Vol. 1. 2010. p. 1308. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. On September 14, the Information Ministry also warned the independent publication Brestskaya Gazeta for purportedly disseminating false information.
  4. ^ Мартуль, Ксения; Яницкая, Ликия (2019). "Гендерный аспект рекламы в региональных газетах" (PDF). Рэгіянальныя СМІ Рэспублікі Беларусь у лічбавую эпоху: стан, праблемы і перспектывы (in Russian). Minsk: Belarusian State University: 148–153. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  5. ^ Шавров, Даниил (2019). "Аналитика как инструмент конструктивного диалога с аудиторией в региональной прессе Беларуси" (PDF). Рэгіянальныя СМІ Рэспублікі Беларусь у лічбавую эпоху: стан, праблемы і перспектывы (in Russian). Minsk: Belarusian State University: 265–270. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  6. ^ Спасюк, Елена; Сацюк, Сергей (2021-03-17). "Атака на брестских журналистов — против здравого смысла и свободы слова" (in Russian). naviny.by. Archived from the original on 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  7. ^ «Брестской газете» — 14 лет!//«Брестская газета»
  8. ^ a b Мартуль, Ксения; Яницкая, Ликия (2019). "Гендерный аспект рекламы в региональных газетах" (PDF). Рэгіянальныя СМІ Рэспублікі Беларусь у лічбавую эпоху: стан, праблемы і перспектывы (in Russian). Minsk: Belarusian State University: 148–153. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  9. ^ a b Шавров, Даниил (2019). "Аналитика как инструмент конструктивного диалога с аудиторией в региональной прессе Беларуси" (PDF). Рэгіянальныя СМІ Рэспублікі Беларусь у лічбавую эпоху: стан, праблемы і перспектывы (in Russian). Minsk: Belarusian State University: 265–270. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  10. ^ Оксана, Бровач (2020-11-30). "В Бресте типография не продлевает договор на печать негосударственной "Брестской газеты"". kp.by. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  11. ^ "Neighbours' March: Over 400 detainees across Belarus, many beaten". Belsat TV. 2020-11-30. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  12. ^ "Брестские журналисты Коршунов и Хлебец отпущены на свободу после составления протоколов" (in Russian). BelaPAN. 2020-11-29. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  13. ^ "Verpflegung in Gefängnis muss selbst bezahlt werden" (in German). International Society for Human Rights. 2020-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  14. ^ "Lukaschenka setzt weiter auf Gewalt" (PDF). Für die Menschenrechte (in German) (11). International Society for Human Rights: 4. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01. Für ihre Berichte über Protestmärsche in Brest wurden Reporter der Zeitung „Brestskaja Gaseta" verhaftet und drei Tage eingesperrt. In einem Eilprozess danach erhielten sie weitere 15 Tage.
  15. ^ СПАСЮК, Елена. "Атака на брестских журналистов — против здравого смысла и свободы слова". Naviny.by. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Типография отказалась с нового года печатать "Брестскую газету", которая выходит 18 лет" (in Russian). TUT.BY. 2020-11-30. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  17. ^ "Издатели региональной прессы "Объединенные МассМедиа" обратились к директору ОАО "Брестская типография"" (in Russian). Infa-Kurjer. 2020-12-02. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  18. ^ Петрович, Алесь (2020-11-30). "Обыск у издателя: как власти Беларуси давят на независимую прессу в регионах" (in Russian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  19. ^ Еўрарадыё (2020-12-18). "Рэдактар "Брестской газеты" папрасіў чытачоў адмовіцца ад падпіскі на 2021 год" (in Belarusian). European Radio for Belarus. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  20. ^ Еврорадио (2020-12-18). "Редактор "Брестской газеты" попросил читателей отказаться от подписки на 2021 го" (in Russian). European Radio for Belarus. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  21. ^ ""Все типографии отказались печатать". "Брестская газета" приостанавливает выпуск бумажной версии" (in Russian). TUT.BY. 2021-01-19. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  22. ^ Питкевич, Полина (2021-01-18). ""Читатели печатают на своих принтерах". Как выживают независимые газеты в условиях информационной блокады" (in Russian). mediaiq.by. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  23. ^ "КДБ заявіў пра "шырокамаштабную зачыстку ад радыкальна настроеных". Вынікі нападу на прэсу і актывістаў" (in Belarusian). Belsat. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  24. ^ У рэдакцыі «Брестской газеты», Orsha.eu і баранавіцкага выданьня Intex-Press таксама прыйшлі сілавікі
  25. ^ Мардилович, Антон (2020-07-13). "Терроризм, беспорядки и разжигание вражды. Чем силовики объясняют обыски у журналистов по всей Беларуси" (in Russian). MediaZona. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  26. ^ Республиканский список экстремистских материалов
  27. ^ "Belarusian authorities label newspaper, journalists' association as 'extremist'". Committee to Protect Journalists. March 7, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  28. ^ "Письма из "таких мест". Юрист Максим Знак: "Там в прекрасном далеко просто должно быть хорошо"" (in Russian). Брестская газета. 2021-01-29. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  29. ^ За конструктивный подход… облисполком отметил «Брестскую газету» // «Брестская газета»
  30. ^ «БГ» отметили за активную журпозицию // «Брестская газета»
  31. ^ Птицына, Татьяна; Шульгач, Александр (2011-07-01). "Журналистка "Брестской газеты" отдала премию облисполкома земляку, отсидевшему сутки". Салідарнасць (in Russian). TUT.BY. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  32. ^ Награда. Журналистка «БГ» Алла Ковалева стала победительницей профессионального конкурса // «Брестская газета»
  33. ^ Журналист «Брестской газеты» вошел в число лучших журналистов региональных СМИ Беларуси // «Брестская газета»
  34. ^ Прэс-служба ГА “Беларуская асацыяцыя журналістаў” (2018-11-09). ""Брестскую газету" назвалі лепшым рэгіянальным выданнем года ФОТА" (in Belarusian). Belarusian Association of Journalists. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  35. ^ "Гэтыя публікацыі сайта horki.info прызнаны найлепшымі ў Беларусі" (in Belarusian). horki.info. 2020-11-06. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  36. ^ "Вынікі конкурса "Найлепшае рэгіянальнае медыя"" (in Belarusian). Прэс-клюб Беларусь. 9 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.