Polish president awards order to Belsat TV founder

November 11, Pozirk. Polish President Andrzej Duda has awarded a cross to Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy, a founder of the Belsat TV channel broadcasting from Warsaw in Belarusian for Belarusians.

The Cross of the Officer Order of Poland’s Renaissance has been awarded for “an outstanding contribution to the development of independent journalism and free media, the promotion of democratic values and contribution to civil society building,” said Duda’s press office.

The presentation ceremony was held on November 11, timed to coincide with Poland’s Independence Day.

Belsat TV was established in 2007 to broadcast independent news and analysis after the Alaksandar Łukašenka government in Belarus took control of all broadcast media and cracked down on other free media outlets based in the country.

Belarusian authorities have jailed at least 17 former Belsat TV workers, mainly on charges of extremism for association with the channel.

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