The Internet Governance Forum aims to legitimize suppression of free speech
The Minsk Internet Governance Forum is scheduled for mid-November. It used to be open to all market players, but now only serves to create an illusion of normalcy and validate repression.
Belarusian Association of Journalists, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Human Constanta, and other activists have issued a statement denouncing the forum.
The Belarusian IGF forum organizers say it’s the “biggest open platform in the country to discuss important Internet topics,” and “everyone can contribute to designing the agenda.”
“In a political crisis with extensive repressions, parties cannot have a fruitful dialogue,” reads the joint statement from BAJ, Human Constanta, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House, Legal Initiative, Office for European Expertise and Communications (OEEC) and other organizations.
Activists for human rights remind that the forum wasn’t held in 2020–2023 for reasons related to fraudulent elections, when Internet access was greatly limited. Furthermore, Hoster.by company, which has been under pressure before and is a former affiliate of Tut.by, now coordinates the event.
“Due to the current political situation in Belarus impacting citizens and businesses, we will not criticize the event’s national organizers,” stated the human rights activists. “Nevertheless, we have questions for the international partners who have confirmed their participation and encourage them to consider the wider consequences.”
Since 2020, the government has increased its efforts to suppress online criticism, resulting in the blocking of many independent news sources and labeling some groups’ online content as “extremist” or “terrorist.” This has forced several media outlets to shut down or relocate abroad.
“The Forum aims to legitimize the suppression of media freedom.”
Representatives of BAJ and Human Constanta believe that the participation of high-ranking foreign partners will contribute to this legitimization. This will send a clear signal of accepting such practice amidst the growing repression in Belarus.
The statement highlights that advocates for human rights endorse the fundamental forum principles of being transparent, accessible, collaborative, and non-commercial. Unfortunately, in Belarus, having such discussions is presently not feasible.
“We believe that imitating an open forum with international organizations’ support is harmful. We urge international actors not to participate in the event and especially not to fund fancy banquets for officials and law enforcers who continue to destroy what remains of online freedom in the country.”
The statement authors request that you write a letter, send a postcard and demand freedom for political prisoners who had upheld the forum’s development as a dialogue platform before the 2020 crisis, such as Maryna Zolatava, Ludmila Chekina, and Nasta Loika.