Russian TV channels unhappy with censorship in Belarus

A big group of journalist of Russian regional media arrived in Belarus on a press tour.

This is largest “landing forces” of journalist taking part in similar propaganda events over recent years. After visiting big industrial, cultural and sporting institutions, the guests are expected to have a meeting with Alyaksandr Lukashenka. As analysts think, amid the conflict with Russian leaders, the Belarusian ruler will try to take a stand of an undeservingly offended by the former ally, Radio Svaboda reports.

This time over 100 Russian journalists representing 90 media from 60 Russian regions have arrived in Belarus.

The composition of the delegation proves the fact that journalists were thoroughly selected for the trip – there are no representatives of central media, only provincial journalists. The Russian Agency of Political News says referring to a source in president’s administration that the Kremlin “strongly advised” the federal media to refrain from “advertising tours” round Belarus.

According to Vladimir Kakashvili, the director of foreign broadcasting department at Russian TV Center channel, though Belarus says it’s necessary to give the Russian audience “truthful and objective information”, the country fences itself off from Russian information influence by applying censorship and adjusting Russian TV channels for Belarus.