Dmitry Shepelev: It's a symptom that I wasn't the only one who left the country

Former Belarusian journalist Dmitry Shepelev meets more and more his former colleagues in Kyiv and Moscow.

The journalist gave an interview to Ukrainian mignews.com.ua website.

“I remember that some my co-workers were telling me when I was going to work in Kyiv: 'Are you fleeing, rat? Want big money? Come on, go away, defector.' You know what? I later met all of these people in Kyiv or in Moscow. Sadly, but it is a symptom that I am not the only one who leaves the country,” Dmitry Shepelev said.

The journalist says it was impossible to work on the Belarusian television.

“Unfortunately, I have nothing to do there. There's no commercial television, only state-owned channels,” he said.

Dmitry Shepelev, who has been living in Moscow for five years, admitted he had several proposals to obtain Russian citizenship.

“My closest friends are from Minsk. I grew up and studied in university with them. I have a couple of people in Kyiv, with whom I became friends at work here. I don't feel I am a Muscovite. Moreover, I don't feel I am Russian. I don't plan to renounce my Belarusian citizenship despite the difficulties I have with my blue passport. I don't hide that I had several proposals to obtain Russian citizenship, but I refused, because it is a matter of principle for me,” he said.

The journalist worked for Alpha Radio and Belarusian TV in Belarus. He moved to Ukraine and later to Russia.