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Chairman of Internet service providers’ association defends Lukashenka’s Internet use edict

One should not be afraid that Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s Internet use edict will be an impediment, Andrey Nareyka, chairman of Belinfocom, an association of Internet service providers, mobile phone operators, solution providers and telecommunications manufacturers, told reporters in Minsk on Tuesday, as quoted by BelaPAN.

The press conference was called on the occasion of the third anniversary of the association, which currently has 17 members.

Officially titled, “On Measures to Improve the Use of the National Segment of the Internet,” the February 1, 2010 edict came into force on July 1.

The edict, which is widely believed to be aimed at tightening the government's control over the Internet on the eve of a presidential election, provides for the possibility of closing access to websites and will require Internet service providers to identify subscriber devices used by their clients and keep records of them, as well as of services provided to clients.