Euronews Cut off in Homel

25.01.2005.

According to RFE/RL

In the evening of 24 January the TV channel Euronews disappeared from the cable and ether non-state TV nets. It was replaced with Belarusian “Stalichnaye Telebachanne” (“Capital TV”).

Euronews was the only of the twelve channels, proposed to Mahiliow citizens by “Dion-TV-service” Ltd. That broadcast daily information from different spheres, including political, without ideological comments.

The head of “Dion” Aliaksandr Astapaw referred to the state check-up during which the authorities demanded from the firm to execute the demands of the Ministry of Information concerning the obligatory TV channels. The list includes “Stalichnaye Telebachanne”, but doesn’t contain Euronews.

The head of Mahilion regional branch of Belarusian Association of Journalists Henadz Sudnik thinks that the reason for the disconnection of Euronews was broadcasts of the inaugurations of George Bush and Viktor Yushchenko, as well as the detailed program about Condolisa Reis where much attention was paid to totalitarian regimes, including Belarus.

The administration of “Dion-TV-service” says that Euronews is not a prohibited channel and soon it could be restored.