‘Independent press piped down’: Journalist banned from filming exhibition in Hrodna

Phot. baj.by, Аles Dzyanisau

Iryna Silvanovich, the director of Hrodna exhibition hall, barred freelance journalist Ales Dzyanisau from entering the exhibition by a French traveller.

‘Communalka’, an exhibition of work of French traveller and photographer Francoise Huguier, opened in Hrodna on November 3 as part of the festival ‘Month of Photography’, reports baj.by.

As previously reported by Belsat, in August 2015 Iryna Silvanovich and her husband, artist Alyaksandr Silvanovich, were called upon to testify in the trial of freelance journalists Ales Dzyanisau and Ales Kirkevich. They were found guilty of illegal production and distribution of media products and fined Br 4.5 mln each. The charge was based on their covering the exhibition of dolls for Belsat TV.

“I have been forbidden to film in many places already – and in all cases, it was some half-official ban. I came to film the exhibition at the personal invitation of photographers Ales Sayenka and Andrey Lyankevich. Director of the exhibition hall Irina Silvanovich did not let me pass – and I did not want to fight against a woman!” Dzyanisau said.

“I was going to start filming against all the odds, but I was stopped by the thought about the threat for Silvanovich – in this case, she might be fired. I did not want to do any harm to her. At the same time, I must admit that it was Mrs. Silvanovich who piped independent press down, although she did that against her own will,” he said.

According to the journalist, there are no political issues to report on in Hrodna, but social and cultural fields are worthy of special attention. But Belarusian authorities are able to give an order to any official to kick an independent journalist away.