Belarus has shut country's largest independent news outlet after raid on its offices. This is being seen as a widening crackdown in the wake of historic opposition protests last year.

Journalists in the ex-Soviet nation are facing mounting pressure after the protests contested a presidential election win claimed by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko.

The long-serving authoritarian leader has drawn scorn from the West, and the United States and EU have slapped sanctions on him and his allies.

The news portal by the name of Tut.by was the latest media house targetted by the authorities. Security agents searched offices and homes of the journalists working for the website, as per the editor-in-chief. The outlet was then taken offline entirely.

"TUT.by co-founder Kirill Voloshin reports that the website's domain has been blocked," the news organisation reported on its Telegram channel.&nbsp;

AFP journalists said the site was unavailable in Belarus, Russia and France.

Ministry of information later confirmed that it had blocked Tut.by at the request of the general prosecutor's office. The ministry said that the outlet regularly published 'prohibited information'

Editor-in-chief Marina Zolotova earlier told AFP that members of a state financial investigations department had searched her home and the homes of several of her employees.

"Representatives of security agencies also came to the newsroom," she said, adding that she was unable to get in touch with several Tut.by employees.

The state control committee's financial investigations department, which confirmed the searches, is a powerful enforcement body that has previously targeted the opposition.

It said Tuesday that it was investigating Tut.by for tax evasion. The group later announced a separate criminal probe into the portal's director Lyudmila Chekina.&nbsp;

The committee's financial investigative body also notably probed Lukashenko's opponent Viktor Babaryko, who was arrested two months before last August's presidential election.

(With inputs from agencies)

Belarus has shut country's largest independent news outlet after raid on its offices. This is being seen as a widening crackdown in the wake of historic opposition protests last year.

Belarus has shut country's largest independent news outlet after raid on its offices. This is being seen as a widening crackdown in the wake of historic opposition protests last year. Journalists in the ex-Soviet nation are facing mounting pressure after the protests contested a presidential election win claimed by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko. The long-serving authoritarian leader has drawn scorn from the West, and the United States and EU have slapped sanctions on him and his allies. The news portal by the name of Tut.by was the latest media house targetted by the authorities. Security agents searched offices and homes of the journalists working for the website, as per the editor-in-chief. The outlet was then taken offline entirely. "TUT.by co-founder Kirill Voloshin reports that the website's domain has been blocked," the news organisation reported on its Telegram channel. AFP journalists said the site was unavailable in Belarus, Russia and France. Ministry of information later confirmed that it had blocked Tut.by at the request of the general prosecutor's office. The ministry said that the outlet regularly published 'prohibited information' Editor-in-chief Marina Zolotova earlier told AFP that members of a state financial investigations department had searched her home and the homes of several of her employees. "Representatives of security agencies also came to the newsroom," she said, adding that she was unable to get in touch with several Tut.by employees. The state control committee's financial investigations department, which confirmed the searches, is a powerful enforcement body that has previously targeted the opposition. It said Tuesday that it was investigating Tut.by for tax evasion. The group later announced a separate criminal probe into the portal's director Lyudmila Chekina. The committee's financial investigative body also notably probed Lukashenko's opponent Viktor Babaryko, who was arrested two months before last August's presidential election. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus shuts independent news site after raids on offices

A leading Malaysian new site was fined USD 120,000 on Friday over readers' comments criticising judiciary. This has sparked concerns about worsening press freedom in the country. There are fears that independent media outlets are under attack in Malaysia ever since a coalition seized power without election last year.

Malaysiakini, a popular portal that has made a name for itself by reporting on the misdeeds of the ruling elite, and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan, were accused of contempt of court in a case brought by the attorney general.

The case relates to five readers' comments on an article that criticised the judiciary. The authorities claim that this eroded public confidence in the courts.

A panel of judges at the country's top court ruled that Malaysiakini was guilty of contempt and ordered the site to pay a 500,000 ringgit ($120,000) fine by Wednesday. Prosecutors had sought a fine of 200,000 ringgit.

Gan -- who could have faced a jail term if convicted -- was cleared, but he criticised the decision as "uncalled for".

"The hefty fine against us is really an attempt not to just shut us up -- but to shut us down," he told reporters at the Federal Court in the administrative capital Putrajaya.

After this ruling, the news portal changed to black and white as sign of protest and launched a fundraising drive.

The site appeared on track to easily get enough -- by Friday afternoon, it had raised over 450,000 ringgit.

It has faced continual attacks since it was founded in 1999, ranging from police raids to criminal prosecutions, and has so far managed to survive every challenge.&nbsp;

'Blatant violation'&nbsp;

Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson, said the ruling was "a blatant violation of freedom of expression and media freedom, and should be quashed".

The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it was worried about the decision and "the impact it will have on press freedom in Malaysia" while British and Canadian envoys also expressed concern.&nbsp;

Judge Rohana Yusuf, delivering the verdict, said freedom of expression must remain "within the bounds permissible by law".

She said the comments on the site were "reprehensible" and involved "allegations of corruption which were unproven and untrue".

It was a split decision, with one of the seven judges dissenting.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

A leading Malaysian new site was fined USD 120,000 on Friday over readers' comments criticising judiciary. This has sparked concerns about worsening press freedom in the country.

A leading Malaysian new site was fined USD 120,000 on Friday over readers' comments criticising judiciary. This has sparked concerns about worsening press freedom in the country. There are fears that independent media outlets are under attack in Malaysia ever since a coalition seized power without election last year. Malaysiakini, a popular portal that has made a name for itself by reporting on the misdeeds of the ruling elite, and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan, were accused of contempt of court in a case brought by the attorney general. The case relates to five readers' comments on an article that criticised the judiciary. The authorities claim that this eroded public confidence in the courts. A panel of judges at the country's top court ruled that Malaysiakini was guilty of contempt and ordered the site to pay a 500,000 ringgit ($120,000) fine by Wednesday. Prosecutors had sought a fine of 200,000 ringgit. Gan -- who could have faced a jail term if convicted -- was cleared, but he criticised the decision as "uncalled for". "The hefty fine against us is really an attempt not to just shut us up -- but to shut us down," he told reporters at the Federal Court in the administrative capital Putrajaya. After this ruling, the news portal changed to black and white as sign of protest and launched a fundraising drive. The site appeared on track to easily get enough -- by Friday afternoon, it had raised over 450,000 ringgit. It has faced continual attacks since it was founded in 1999, ranging from police raids to criminal prosecutions, and has so far managed to survive every challenge. 'Blatant violation' Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson, said the ruling was "a blatant violation of freedom of expression and media freedom, and should be quashed". The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it was worried about the decision and "the impact it will have on press freedom in Malaysia" while British and Canadian envoys also expressed concern. Judge Rohana Yusuf, delivering the verdict, said freedom of expression must remain "within the bounds permissible by law". She said the comments on the site were "reprehensible" and involved "allegations of corruption which were unproven and untrue". It was a split decision, with one of the seven judges dissenting. (With AFP inputs)

Malaysian news site slapped heavy fine sparking press freedom concerns

Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today stressed on media adopting self-regulation and asserted that the government had no plan to regulate news portals and media websites.

Dismissing the government vs media debate, he said his ministry would work in a direction where any media, whether public broadcaster Prasar Bharati or private channels, becomes the 'voice of people'.

"The Prime Minister is very clear that the media in our country is one of the very important pillars of democracy and they have to self-regulate," Mr Rathore told reporters.

Mr Rathore assumed charge as Minister of State (Independent charge) of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry after replacing Smriti Zubin Irani. He also holds the portfolio of Sports Ministry.

In the Indian media, the minister said, self-regulation was done in various layers, first by a journalist and then by editors. The government believes in self-regulation by the media, he added.

The comments assume significance in the backdrop of a controversial press release issued by the ministry last month on fake news. The communique was widely criticised by media organisations and subsequently withdrawn after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention.

To a query over the ministry issuing an order last month for the constitution of a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites, Mr Rathore said, I think you have misunderstood it.

He said Prasar Bharati will be strengthened and high priority would be given to better and informative programmes.

"It is not us vs them...It is not about two teams. It is about a collective responsibility that media becomes the voice of the people, whether it is Prasar Bharati or private network or channel. We will work in this direction," the Union minister said.

Mr Rathore, who was a junior minister in the ministry, said that in the last four years, the government was able to establish a two-way communication with the people of the country.

"We will continue to do that," he said.

On the challenges posed by social media, Mr Rathore said social media platforms were totally independent.

"We hope people put across their views with responsibility," he added.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore dismissed the government vs media debate, stressing on self-regulation.

Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today stressed on media adopting self-regulation and asserted that the government had no plan to regulate news portals and media websites. Dismissing the government vs media debate, he said his ministry would work in a direction where any media, whether public broadcaster Prasar Bharati or private channels, becomes the 'voice of people'. "The Prime Minister is very clear that the media in our country is one of the very important pillars of democracy and they have to self-regulate," Mr Rathore told reporters. Mr Rathore assumed charge as Minister of State (Independent charge) of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry after replacing Smriti Zubin Irani. He also holds the portfolio of Sports Ministry. In the Indian media, the minister said, self-regulation was done in various layers, first by a journalist and then by editors. The government believes in self-regulation by the media, he added. The comments assume significance in the backdrop of a controversial press release issued by the ministry last month on fake news. The communique was widely criticised by media organisations and subsequently withdrawn after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention. To a query over the ministry issuing an order last month for the constitution of a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites, Mr Rathore said, I think you have misunderstood it. He said Prasar Bharati will be strengthened and high priority would be given to better and informative programmes. "It is not us vs them...It is not about two teams. It is about a collective responsibility that media becomes the voice of the people, whether it is Prasar Bharati or private network or channel. We will work in this direction," the Union minister said. Mr Rathore, who was a junior minister in the ministry, said that in the last four years, the government was able to establish a two-way communication with the people of the country. "We will continue to do that," he said. On the challenges posed by social media, Mr Rathore said social media platforms were totally independent. "We hope people put across their views with responsibility," he added.

No plans to regulate news websites: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

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