Łukašenka signs amendments to subsidize state media

April 11, BPN. Alaksandr Łukašenka on April 10 amended his March 31, 2022 edict “On the Development of the Media.”

Łukašenka’s press office reported that he updated the approach to media development and expanded the use of advertisement tax revenues.

According to the amendments, the money is allocated only to state-owned media and organizations. In particular, Biełteleradyjo would be given support to buy equipment and software and to upgrade its production facilities. The Biełta news agency would be able to develop a multimedia website. Minsk’s Press House could set up and run a media monitoring system. The Belarusian State University could buy hardware for the journalism faculty.

Previously, there were reports that the state media would receive more than 160 million rubels (some $63.3 million at the current exchange rate) from the national budget in 2023, of which 140 million would go to the state’s television channels.