Euronews has become the latest news channel to be banned from a country in a growing international trend to control the news.
Broadcasts of Euronews were banned in the former Soviet republic of Belarus by the country’s Ministry of Information. It declined to extend a permit to broadcast in the country.
According to reports, the Ministry officially justified its decision due to adverts not being translated into local languages. But it comes in the aftermath of months of protests against the ruler Alexander Lukashenko. In recent months, the authorities have repeatedly taken action against the media, where they have not fallen in line with the state. Journalists were arrested and sentenced to prison terms. The BBC and CNN are also not permitted in Belarus.
At the same time, the Ministry of Information approved a channel featuring films from the Second World War. It said it hoped the new channel of “military-patriotic orientation will find a worthy response in the hearts and souls” of viewers.
The impact on the ban is expected to limited to relays of the channel via local television platforms. The Belarus authorities do not have control over the Europe-wide free-to-air transmissions on Astra 19.2 and Eutelsat Hot Bird.
Earlier this year, China banned BBC World News following the UK’s licence revocation of CGTN.