The publishing companies “Belarusian printing house” and “Printing Combine” in Minsk are the two biggest state printing medium manufacturers of the republic Belarus.The print media as those are of special meaning for the Belarusian government. Above all before the presidential election they, as a vehicle for propaganda, play a role, which is not to be underestimated. The authoritarian president Lukashenko appreciates his traditional voters. These are first of all pensioner and villagers, for who print media and not the television or the Internet are the most important sources of information.

Nevertheless, inside both publishing companies the workers are underpaid. Their production is expected to meet higher and higher requirements — in spite of ancient equipment. There can be no talk of working safety. In the Belarusian winter the workers have to freeze, because the workrooms are hardly heated, if at all. While the whole world celebrates the World Press Freedom Day on the 3rd of May, in Belarus the Press Day is cheered on the 5th of May.