The only Belarusian-language programme “Novaya Zyamlya” closed on radio Unistar

The leadership of Unistar radio decided to take off the air Viktar Syamashka’s programme “Novaya Zyamlya”.

The programme, the only Belarusian-language one on Unistar radio,could be heard on 99.5FM since 1995, the website udf.by reports.

The programme, focusing on alternative Belarusian culture, was airplayed about 200 times for four years. Its author, an officer of Unistar radio Viktar Syamashka, tells he was going to dedicate the nearest “Novaya Zyamlya” to “trasyanka”, or a Belarusian–Russian patois. “I wanted to make a humorous programme, tell how many people speak the Belarusian language and how many use trasyanka, to play the appropriate songs.”

But this programme won’t be aired. The administration of the radio station told the host the programme was taken off the air due to the changes in air policy.

It is interesting that the decision of Unistar coincided with the warning of the Ministry of Information to another Belarusian radio station – Avtoradio for “lack of correspondence with the broadcasting concept”. Officials became interested in the programme of the European Radio for Belarus broadcasted by Avtoradio.