Polish foreign ministry, British embassy pledge support for BelSat channel
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15:45, — Politics
The Polish foreign ministry and the British embassy in Warsaw have pledged to increase support for TV Belarus (BelSat), a satellite channel of Poland's TVP public television network.
In late March, BelSat reporters were targeted in nationwide raids carried out by police and KGB officers on offices of pro-opposition broadcasters funded by the European Union and Poland, and the apartments of journalists working with them. Raids resulted into the seizure of broadcast equipment.
The Polish foreign ministry said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the raids were "worrying."
It said that the British embassy had pledged funds to provide replacement laptops for BelSat journalists, whereas Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski had announced that Poland would increase funding for the TV channel to cover losses suffered by journalists. "We encourage other Embassies and organizations to provide assistance too," the statement says.
TV Belarus started broadcasts this past December, with most programs made in the Belarusian language. The network described its mission as providing “accurate and independent coverage of events in Belarus, Europe and the rest of the world.” //BelaPAN
