Hrodna TV Fails to Broadcast Opposition Candidate’s Speech

23.09.2004.

On Tuesday state-run Hrodna TV channel failed to broadcast the speech of parliamentary candidate Mikola Voran. The management of Hrodna state TV and Radio Company refuse to give explanations why the chair of BPF city organization was not on the air.
Speeches of candidates running in Hrodna-West district were recorded on September 20.
-- In my speech I said I was a representative of pro-democratic circles of society sending a challenge to the ruling regime of Lukashenka, Mikola Voran told Pahonia reporter, -- I urged people to vote against the issue on the referendum.

The speech was planned to be broadcasted the next day after it had been recorded. However, yesterday the TV put only the speech of the incumbent MP Siarhei Kamianetski on the air. Mikola Voran made a number of phone calls to the TV company to find out was his speech was not on the air.

-- I was pushed from one employee to another, and back, -- says Voran, -- Finally, they gave me the number of the company director. However, I didn’t manage to talk to him, because his phone was constantly switched to fax mode.