The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia declared the Belsat TV channel undesirable
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia declared the Polish Belsat TV channel, which broadcasts in the Belarusian language, undesirable on the territory of the country.
The agency believes that Belsat broadcasts “beneficial templates for the West”, spreads “lies” about the war in Ukraine and the seizure of Ukrainian territories, and also cooperates with persons whom the Russian authorities have recognized as foreign agents.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the audience of the TV channel consists of residents of Russia and Belarus.
In 2021, the Belarusian authorities recognized the TV channel as extremist. Belarusians face administrative and criminal liability for subscribing to ego social networks or reposting materials. Belsat covered the protests in Belarus after the announcement of the victory of Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential elections in August 2020, which lasted for more than six months.
The Russian-language project of the “Vot Tak” TV channel was declared a foreign agent in January 2024 by the Russian authorities.
- There are already 189 organizations on the undesirable list of the Ministry of Justice. Citizens face a fine of up to 15,000 rubles for participating in an organization deemed undesirable by the Russian authorities, and up to four years in prison for repeated charges. At the same time, the wording of what exactly can be considered participation is vague in the law.
