Novychas2’s Weblog

Aliaksei Karol gives interview to Radio Liberty, aired on December 9, 2007 as part of the Radio’s new program “Free Studio.”

Several weeks ago member of the Council of Representatives of the National Assembly, Mikalay Charhinets, sued newspaper Novy Chas alleging that it offended his honor, dignity and business reputation. The court held preliminary session on December 5. Today our guest – Editor in Chief of the Novy Chas Aliaksei Karol, interviewed by Mikhas Skobla.

Mikhas Skobla (MS): Aliaksei, remind us please what in your newspaper offended Milkalay Charhinets?

Aliaksei Karol (AK): In issue number 25 of the Novy Chas there was an article by journalist Alexander Tamkovich called “General-Senator Mikalay Charhinets.” This was not the first such feature article and not the last – Tamkovich is working on a series “Faces of the Modern History of Belarus.” We think that these series are interesting to readers as they illustrate the key turning points in the last fifteen years of our history, what actually was happening in Belarus, and where these events have led us. What specifically did Charhinets dislike? That the article gave low grades to his work as a novelist. Also mentioned are his long term “assignment” to Afghanistan and his work in the Lukashenka election campaign. I did not and do not think that the article offended the honor and business reputation of Mikalay Charhinets. Tamkovich described these events correctly, relying on facts. As for giving evaluation and comments – that is the author’s right.

MS: Last week the court held a preliminary session. Normally the judge, having listened to the arguments of both sides, offers them to settle by agreement. Have you tried to settle with Charhinets and are you ready to make any concessions?

AK: Yes, we have. Not only to Charhinets, but to anyone who wants to use it, we are ready to offer space in our paper to voice their opinion and participate in a discussion. We offered to Charhinets: publish your own position in the space equal to that used for the Tamkovich article. But our proposal was not accepted.

MS: Mr. Charhinets valued his reputation with a very large sum: he is demanding 100 million rubles from the author and 500 million from the paper. Why is “Charhinets honor” so expensive?

AK: According to our laws, the plaintiff has the right to set his compensation, so I cannot say what was guiding Mr. Charhinets in his demands. In reality, the amount stated in the suit can mean only one thing – the plaintiff wants that the paper to shut down. Either 100 million or 500 million are not affordable to any independent medium. Rumors that independent papers are swimming in money are not true. The very few independent papers remaining in Belarus run on naked enthusiasm.

MS: You are an experienced publisher, for twelve years you had been publishing a weekly Zgoda. Have you experienced such instances before, when somebody considered himself offended by your paper?

AK: Yes, we have been charged with one civil case before. Also for the so called defamation of a most senior official.

MS: That time Lukashenka himself felt he was offended?

AK: No, not Alexander Lukashenka himself, but the prosecutor considered that the information and cartoons in the paper offended the president’s honor and dignity. On September 23, 2005 a Minsk district court fined me and my deputy with 2.5 million roubles each.

But let’s return to today’s case. In his interview to Belapan news agency, Mr. Charhinets commented on the situation as follows: “I am protecting my honor so that others do not print lies. And those papers who will continue to insinuate will also receive suits. I decided to not stop. I will enrich our healthcare system.” So in essence, the fate of the paper is of no interest to Charhinets. And it appears that the Novy Chas is only the beginning of his campaign against all independent media. Charhinets in advance placing himself beyond all criticism.

MS: Could it be that the article “General Senator Mikalay Charhinets” was a provocation?

AK: No, the article itself definitely not, because as the editor in chief I cleared all personalities that Tamkovich proposed to cover in the Modern History series. The article on Charhinets is one of sixteen features that have been published to date.

MS: Among the sixteen featured personalities Tamkovich has written on Uladzimer Kanaplyou and Mikhail Myasnikovich. I understand those stories also were quite critical. But Myasnikovich and Kanaplyou did not act against you?

AK: No, there was not a negative reaction. Not from them, not from anybody in their close circle.

MS: Charhinets turned out to be the most sensitive character?

AK: Yes, these are the first motions against the Novy Chas.

MS: It is known that Mikalay Charhinets chairs the officially sponsored Union of Writers of Belarus, while the Novy Chas publishes a monthly supplement “Literary Belarus” that gives its pages to alternative writers. Perhaps this fact also had something to do with such reaction from Charhinets?

AL: Yes, in his suit Charhinets cites the part of the article where the union he chairs is called “proper” as opposed to the “improper,” independent, writers’ union. So it is possible that this motivation is part of it too.

MS: In this case, why did you associate yourself with writers disliked by the authorities? Why extra trouble?

AK: Well, that might be so, but I recall an article by Vasil Bykau from the middle 1990’s. In that article the great writer said that the Belarusian situation was serious and here to stay, and so one must say what one has to say today, now, because it is very possible that an opportunity to speak will not be there tomorrow. Also, the freedom of speech does not accept zones closed to criticism. And when such zones do appear, then they begin to spread beyond just one person, but also to his circle, and then the circle’s circle. And then we cannot talk about a free society any more. When you are offended by an article, call, meet the author, find out his position, publish your own point of view – this is normal practice in a free society.

In the entire world politicians are using public criticism to their own advantage, to raise their fame and ratings. Churchill once famously said “There have not been cartoons about me for a while. I must be becoming unpopular.” And recently the Economist, a British weekly, published an article about prime minister Brown. Well, there are such harsh words in that article! Complete with a cartoon. And nothing. This normal for an open society. If anything, it gives the politician the opportunity to once again attract public attention to his persona.

MS: And what if at the next court session Charhinets or his representative will offer to cut out the “Literary Belarus” from the Novy Chas in exchange for recalling the suit – will you agree?

AK: No, I will not agree for one simple reason. The Union of Belarusian Writers lost everything it had, their office, their magazine. And now the writers have only two opportunities to publish their work – magazine Dzeyaslou and our supplement in the Novy Chas. When we started publishing the supplement, we saw rising interest to both the paper and the writers’ work. Plus, we cover not just literature, but also visual arts, history. Today these themes are much in demand. If the situation in the country changes, the Novy Chas will change too.

MS: The next court session is scheduled for December 19. One hopes that it will not deprive us of the right to read one of the few independent papers. But in case the Charhinets suit is satisfied, what is your plan?

AK: We have only one small reserve ground – the Internet. Luckily, it is growing. I think we will be forced to come out in the PDF format, even though such format will not replace the printed Novy Chas. What has been published already will remain. In normal countries, print, radio, web publications all exist and have their audiences, their demand. And so I want to call upon those among your listeners who care about the freedom of speech, and who believe in solidarity, with the following request: subscribe to the Novy Chas for one month. And then we shall see. Our subscription service, like that of other independent papers, is accessible by calling the editorial office. Our phone (+375) 280 – 1791.

P.S. Aliaksei Karol near the court building on December 5, 2007.

Technorati tags: Belarus, Novy Chas, Radio Liberty, Freedom of speech, Independent media