Andrei Bastunets: According To Lukashenka, Role Of Media Hasn’t Changed Since Last Century

The ruler hasn’t switched the Soviet era style of thinking off yet, when mass media were part of state authorities.

In his recent “message” to the nation, Lukashenka touched upon the mass media issue:

“We should push back all kinds of slander and insinuations. There was a good phrasing once: to equal a pen to a bayonet. And, by the way, all the heads of major Mass Media used to have that bayonet with them once. But either the bayonet has become blunted, or the pen was lost. Today more than ever, it is important that our newspapers, magazines and television channels adopted this fighting spirit and ability to actively and professionally discuss and defend their constructive position. By the way, if you need a bayonet, address the Minister of Defense - we have plenty of such kind of things", – Radio Svaboda quotes Lukashenka.

Andrei Bastunets, the head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, commented on this statement:

“First of all, this is return to the Soviet era: assessment of place and role of Mass Media, when they were part of the state authorities. And the phrasing “to equal a pen to a bayonet” means that the head of state sees the role of the media the way it was in the last century. And he addresses this message primarily to the state media – he doesn’t say this directly, but it is implicated and it demonstrates the head of state’s stance on the media sector in the country”, – Andrei Bastunets says.