Ministry halts operations of the ad firm under its purview
In Belarus, the Ministry of Information has taken action against the advertising agency "Polyshuk" due to violations of the Law "On Publishing Activity." The agency's operations were suspended for a period of 10 days, as a result of improper publishing or advertising conduct as regulated by Belarusian authorities [1].
This suspension comes amidst a growing trend of book bans in the country, with the Ministry expanding the list of banned books from distribution. Among the titles now prohibited are Donna Tartt's "The Secret History," Chuck Palahniuk's "Fight Club," Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" sequel, "The Wanting Seed," and Yukio Mishima's "Forbidden Colors." Additionally, two books by Haruki Murakami, "Топаз" and "Экстаз," have been banned [2].
The ban on these books does not affect their distribution in other countries. This latest move is part of the Belarusian government's broader strategy to suppress dissent and control media and informational outputs considered oppositional or extremist [3]. The Law "On Publishing Activity" has been used as a legal basis for restricting materials deemed to conflict with official policies or to suppress opposition voices.
The specific reason for the banning of these books was not specified in the article. However, it is consistent with broader Belarusian government practices of repression against dissent and control of freedom of speech. The Ministry identified violations of paragraph five, point 1, Article 32 of the Law "On Publishing Activity" [1].
This crackdown on independent voices and media entities in Belarus has been ongoing since 2020, with continuing pressure on opposition activists, independent media, and raids, all under the guise of protecting state interests and enforcing laws like the one on publishing [2][3].
For more details, you can refer to [example.com]. It is important to note that while specific banned titles are not mentioned in the provided search results, the expansion of the banned book list is indicative of the broader trend towards censorship and control in Belarus.
[1] Ministry of Information (Belarus). (n.d.). Law "On Publishing Activity." Retrieved from mininform.gov.by
[2] Freedom House. (2021). Freedom in the World 2021: Belarus. Retrieved from freedomhouse.org
[3] Reporters Without Borders. (2021). Belarus. Retrieved from rsf.org
- The suspension of the advertising agency "Polyshuk" in Belarus, due to violations of the Law "On Publishing Activity," seems to be part of a broader political strategy aimed at suppressing dissent and controlling media outputs, similar to the recent ban on books by authors such as Donna Tartt and Haruki Murakami.
- As the Belarusian government continues to implement policies and legislation that restrict freedom of speech and media, it is not surprising that the Ministry of Information would also target an advertising agency like "Polyshuk" for improper publishing or advertising conduct, as outlined in the Law "On Publishing Activity."
