Ambassador says russian broadcasts in Belarus down 70% :: Charter'97 :: News

Russia is concerned about issues related to the creation of a common information space for Russia and Belarus, Russia`s ambassador to Minsk Alexander Blokhin told journalists.

The ambassador said that "over the last two years, the amount of Russian television programs in Belarus decreased by 70%."

The number of programs broadcast by Russia`s Kultura channel has decreased to almost nothing, while the number from Rossia and NTV has showed a decline. "Social and political discussion programs that are produced in Russia air very rarely. Entertainment programs are preferred," Blokhin said.

Blokhin said the halting of broadcasts from Russia`s Mayak and Yunost radio stations in Belarus is a violation of the agreement on creating a common information space.
He also expressed concerns over the way that life in Russia is portrayed in Belarus`s state-run mass media. "We are concerned with the fact that in several Belarussian newspapers, including Sovetskaya Byelorussia, the majority of articles about Russia are dedicated to covering negative events," Blokhin said.