Belarus
The Belarus government has moved
to second- and third-generation controls to manage its national information space. Control over the Internet
is centralized with the governmentowned Beltelecom managing the
country’s Internet gateway. Regulation is heavy with strong state
involvement in the telecommunications and media market. Most users
who post online media practice a degree of self-censorship prompted by fears of
regulatory prosecution. The political climate is repressive and opposition leaders
and independent journalists are frequently detained and prosecuted.
Background
Under President Alexander Lukashenka, the Belarusian regime has been criticized for
its repressive and increasingly authoritarian tendencies. In 2008, it was announced
that Lukashenka would most likely run for a fourth term in 2011. 1 During his rule a
number of independent and opposition leaders have been detained, opposition parties
banned, and public demonstrations suppressed. The economic and political system
remains highly centralized, with executive authority vested exclusively in the office of
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency
The Belarus government has moved
to second- and third-generation controls to manage its national information space. Control over the Internet
is centralized with the governmentowned Beltelecom managing the
country’s Internet gateway. Regulation is heavy with strong state
involvement in the telecommunications and media market. Most users
who post online media practice a degree of self-censorship prompted by fears of
regulatory prosecution. The political climate is repressive and opposition leaders
and independent journalists are frequently detained and prosecuted.
Background
Under President Alexander Lukashenka, the Belarusian regime has been criticized for
its repressive and increasingly authoritarian tendencies. In 2008, it was announced
that Lukashenka would most likely run for a fourth term in 2011. 1 During his rule a
number of independent and opposition leaders have been detained, opposition parties
banned, and public demonstrations suppressed. The economic and political system
remains highly centralized, with executive authority vested exclusively in the office of
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency