CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev expressed concern over the blocking and removal from YouTube of channels belonging to leading Belarusian media outlets – the BELTA news agency, as well as the ONT and STV television channels.
According to Sergey Lebedev, the blocking of leading and effectively operating media outlets of Belarus with millions of views on YouTube is a clear example of the infringement of journalists’ rights. “It is no secret that the Commonwealth’s headquarters is based in Minsk, and the CIS agenda has always been covered qualitatively, promptly and in a balanced manner by the republican media. Now readers and viewers in the Commonwealth and beyond are deprived of the opportunity to learn about what is happening. We have closely cooperated with Belarusian media for many years, including the BELTA news agency and the ONT and STV television channels. Journalists have reported with great professionalism on what is happening in the Commonwealth of Independent States, including media coverage of meetings of the Heads of State Council, the Heads of Government Council, the Council of Foreign Ministers, and the CIS Economic Council, the activities of sectoral cooperation bodies, the celebration of shared significant dates, as well as major forums and other important events within the CIS,” emphasized the CIS Secretary-General.
The CIS Secretary-General also emphasized that the right to freedom of opinion and access to open information in modern society are essential components, guaranteed by fundamental international human rights instruments. Thus, on April 12, 2024, in Minsk at a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers, the Commonwealth's foreign ministers adopted a statement on on Ensuring Safe Conditions for Professional Activities of Journalists and Preventing Infringement of Their Rights.
For reference
On April 3, the YouTube video hosting administration removed the state YouTube channels of BELTA, ONT, and STV. The American company Google, which owns the platform, provided no explanations. The Ministry of Information of Belarus has assessed this unfounded step negatively and reserves the right to take necessary response measures.