Although many question whether Belarus is really an independent state today, its three independence days paint a different picture. Depending on one's political views, Belarusians consider either 25 March, 3 July or 27 July as their real day for commemorating...
Last week on Belarus state TV was a week of historical anniversaries. The 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus, Belarusian Independence Day and, finally, the 20th anniversary of election of Alexander Lukashenka all were presented to demonstrate the success of Belarus'...
Over the past week, state TV Channel 1 covered Alexander Lukashenka’s visits to state enterprises in the regional cities of Salihorsk and Barysau. In their coverage, state TV journalists reported on the excellent personal connection the head of state had...
Alexander Lukashenka's participation in the inauguration of Ukraine's elect-president was among the top news items over the last two weeks on state-run Channel 1. Reporters were particularly enthusiastic in pointing out that the Belarusian leader stood out from other...
Commenting on the recent presidential elections in Ukraine, Belarus state TV journalists noted how unique the elections were because people did not vote strictly along the East-West lines as they traditionally had in the past. State TV journalists presented moderately positive...
The Ice Hockey World Championship have dominated the news coverage on Belarus' Channel 1. Journalists regularly report on the games, but also praise the event's organisation. The official celebrations carried out on Victory Day, held annually on 9 May, were another popular topic. The Belarusian head...
Alexander Lukashenka's annual address to the Belarusian people and parliament was the number one news item of the past week. The head of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan met in Minsk to discuss Eurasian integration. Meanwhile, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, reported to the Belarusian leader developments in the eastern part of the country. Corruption in Belarus remains...
Over the last two weeks Belarusian state Channel 1 has regularly covered the protests taking place in the eastern regions of Ukraine. It also commented upon the economic repercussions of the crisis for ordinary Ukrainians and an increase in...
Recently state TV widely covered Alexander Lukashenka’s official statements regarding events in Ukraine. Journalists also reminded the harm to the state and society which corruption could pose. However, in their opinion Belarus, unlike Ukraine, is successfully combating the problem. The Belarusian...
On 10 April the Belarus Reality Check took place, hosted by the European Endowment for Democracy in Brussels. This is the third event of this series which involves a number of Western and Belarusian analysts and policy-makers. Previous events took place in
Belarus State TV reporters are preoccupied with the removal of communist-era monuments throughout Ukraine - over 50 Lenins have been recently been torn down. Alexander Lukashenka has named the reasons for the upheavals taking place throughout Ukraine: the nation's economic collapse...
The Belarus state media widely covered the crisis in neighbouring Ukraine. Some of those featured by Belarusian state TV argued that external forces, including the EU and USA, provoked and financially aided the protesters to overthrow the government in...
Belarusian state-run Channel 1 regularly covered the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Journalists have often referred to the participants of protests and the opposition as radicals and extremists. Reporters blamed Western politicians for the situation in Maidan.
Belarusian lecturers from the European Humanities University are getting ready to strike soon. This was the message coming out of the University's labour union shortly after the EHU administration dismissed professor Pavel Tereshkovich, the head of the EHU Senate, who was...
The latest issue of New Eastern Europe, an English language magazine published in Poland, devoted nine articles to Belarus. Are Belarusians pro-European? Do activists care about the language issue? Why trade unions in Belarus cannot play the same role as Solidarity movement...