{"id":11424,"date":"2022-06-02T10:14:49","date_gmt":"2022-06-02T07:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/belarusian-regime-desperate-to-expand-state-propaganda-influence\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"belarusian-regime-desperate-to-expand-state-propaganda-influence","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11424\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarusian regime desperate to expand state propaganda influence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Alaksandr Klasko\u016dski<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t * Reproduction is prohibited\n<\/p>\n

\n Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka called five generals and two senior officials on May 31 to discuss what he called counterpropaganda and responses to ideological, information, military and psychological threats.<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In his usual fashion, he focused his strongest words on Washington and its allies who allegedly seek \u201cto destabilize society, change the constitutional system and install people pliant to the West in power.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Generals keep working to suppress freedoms\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u0141uka\u0161enka is worried about threats to his tenure. When it comes to holding on to his office, he usually picks the most brutal and ruthless methods. It was not a surprise that he called five generals and only two civil servants to his conference on propaganda.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The generals are one-track minded people. The only think of what should be banned, shut down and seized to silence opponents, said Valeryj Karbalevi\u010d, a Belarusian political analyst. He added that the conference focused on new efforts to suppress the independent media.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t After the conference, Ihar \u015aerhijenka, head of \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s Presidential Administration, pushed back hard against any suggestion that its participants considered any new restrictions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Observers noted that all possible restrictions are already in place. The government has outlawed all critical media outlets, forcing major organizations to flee<\/a> the country. Nearly 30 journalists are behind bars. Five big trials of journalists are scheduled for June. Belarus\u2019 does not have a single independent newspaper. The government has blocked<\/a> access to critical websites and has jailed hundreds for following social media accounts it deems extremist.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Reposts of \u201cextremist content\u201d are punishable by fines, community service and jail sentences.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Major media outlets critical of \u0141uka\u0161enka, including BelaPAN<\/span>, Belsat<\/span>, RFE\/RL<\/span> Belarus Service, Na\u0161a Niva<\/span> and KYKY<\/span>, have been labeled extremist groups. Association with an extremist group carries a prison sentence of up to six years. Organization of an extremist groups is punishable by a maximum term of 10 years in prison.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Karbalevi\u010d: state media have gained some ground\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The conference focused on measures to reinvigorate journalists and broadcasters, boost creativity, as well as on propaganda and couterpropaganda, \u015aerhijenka said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Propaganda has helped state media outlets to gain some ground on the independent media, Karbalevi\u010d said. State media have reached out to the \u0141uka\u0161enka supporters, undecided voters and those who failed to find credible sources of information after the crackdown on the independent media, he noted.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Government propaganda has been using messenger applications, social media accounts and Youtube more aggressively.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The government has been trying to put its message across to foreign audiences as well, said Pa\u016dluk Byko\u016dski, a Belarusian journalist. He noted that the government does not have enough resources to cope with that mission.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Minsk budgeted 160 million rubels ($62 million at the official exchange rate on June 2) for state-controlled media in 2022.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Propaganda being sold as professional journalism\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u0141uka\u0161enka has dished out praise to Ryhor Azaronak, an obnoxious state television host, and the Zheltyye Slivy pro-government channel in the Telegram messenger application.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The government has cast hysterical propaganda, mudslinging and slur as good standards of journalism and has outlawed media that followed high professional and ethical standards.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t What can be banned\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In March, the Belarusian ruler told officials to consider a ban on Youtube and a combination of legislative measures and technologies to control the Internet.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t On May 16, he urged<\/a> the leaders of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states to \u201cthink seriously whether we should follow the path of China in information struggle, especially on the Internet.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t It is unclear what new measures the government can take. What is clear that it will not liberalize the media environment.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Alaksandr Klasko\u016dski * Reproduction is prohibited Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka called five generals and two senior officials on May 31 to discuss what he called counterpropaganda and responses to ideological, information, military and psychological threats. In his usual fashion, he focused his strongest words on Washington and its allies who allegedly seek \u201cto destabilize society, change […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[24],"class_list":["post-11424","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBelarusian regime desperate to expand state propaganda influence | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Alaksandr Klasko\u016dski * Reproduction is prohibited Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka called five generals and two senior officials on May 31 to discuss what he called\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11424\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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