Security agency strips Belarusian Association of Journalists of domain name

January 3, Pozirk. The Operational and Analytical Center (OAC), a Belarusian agency in charge of information security, has removed the baj.by domain name from the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) citing alleged violations.

Access to the website is currently limited by the information ministry, the BAJ said, warning users that it lost control over the baj.by and baj.by emails. Since May 2023, the BAJ website is available at baj.media.

Authorities acted as thieves violating property rights, said Barys Harecki, deputy chair at the BAJ. The baj.by website had been promoting media freedom and high standards of journalism for almost 20 years while authorities assaulted the freedom of expression, he stressed.

Independent media will continue providing Belarusians with reliable sources of information, Harecki added.

The BAJ will not allow the authorities to legitimize reprisals, censorship and pressure on independent media, he noted.

The BAJ also intends to report the incident to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for “an appropriate assessment” as the seizure of domain names discredits Bynet making it dangerous for independent media and businesses, Harecki said.

In late December, authorities deprived the late media tycoon Juryj Zisier’s family of the tut.by and affiliated domain names.