Office spaces denied for private newspaper in Slonim

Landlords have ordered the Slonim-based independent newspaper Gazeta Slonimskaya to leave the rented office spaces by the weekend, editor-in-chief Viktar Valadashchuk told the European Radio for Belarus. Valadashchuk: "The situation keeps changing every day. Last Friday, I agreed with the landlord to have the rental period extended for one more week. But today's morning I was told to move out, leaving the rooms one by one. Today, I have to vacate one room. The newspaper will remain with five rooms. It means that I must leave the place by the weekend".

It is not clear how the editorial office of the newspaper will get settled. Valadashchuk is busy searching for a new venue. He says that even those who initially agreed to let their premises out are backing off and cancelling the contracts.

Valadashchuk: "Unfortunately, it appears that there are no premises for Gazeta Slonimskaya in Slonim. My hopes are not coming true".