RTR Channel Goes Switched Off in Regional Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

Dozens of thousands Belarusian nationals will be deprived of an opportunity to watch RTR channel starting from February 1. 7 transmitters in Braslav, Bragin, Zhlobin, Zhitkovichi, Maisk, Slonim, Smorgon and Krichev – which used to broadcast RTR programs earlier, will now televise regional TV instead. According to the official version, this move is aimed not at blocking Russian media, but exclusively at the development and promotion of country’s regional television.

The press journalists were told by the National Channel’s chairman Egor Rybakov that at the moment the Belarusian TV and radio company also includes 5 regional TV channels and 5 radio stations. Regional television studios, he said, can well be taken for independent channels, which will be proven in the near future.

Quite naturally, said Rybakov, switching off RTR channel is an unpopular measure. It will surely provoke arrows of indignation and angry feedback from TV viewers. However, it is necessary for Belarus to develop its television, for over the past eight years the Ministry of communications introduced into operation practically no new transmitters and so this “development” will be carried out at RTR’s cost.

“BDG” correspondent was told by the director of the Belarusian RTR bureau Irik Murtazin that this act is Rybakov’s personal thoughtless initiative. Following Vladimir Putin’s visit to Minsk the countries’ interests became intertwined and the reduction of RTR broadcasting area will hardly be welcomed by the leaderships of the two states, especially of Belarus.