The Russian Prosecutor-General's Office on September 13 declared the Poland-based Belsat TV channel, which broadcasts in Belarusian, an "undesirable organization." In a statement, the office accused Belsat of broadcasting "pro-Western" programs, "distributing lies" about the war in Ukraine, and cooperating with people designated as "foreign agents" in Russia. Belarusian authorities declared Belsat an extremist organization and banned it in 2021. The TV channel covered the months of unprecedented protests in Belarus against the official results of the August 2020 presidential election that pronounced authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka the winner despite opposition claims the vote was rigged. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
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RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
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