Belarusian media

Most of Belarusian media are owned by the state and are very anti-Western, in general. and anti-Poland specifically. While there are some privately owned media outlets, generally small indepedent newspapers that are closed down for violating various minor government regulations, the state-controlled media are used by the government to spread propaganda, much as had been done during the times of the Soviet Union. Many western human rights groups state that the civil rights[?] of free expression are severely limited in Belarus, though there are some individuals and groups that refuse to be controlled and some of the journalists have disappeared or faced ideological correction in Belarusian work camps. What makes the situation complex, however, is that the relatively free Russian media is allowed to transmit television programming, sell newspapers and conduct journalistic activities in Belarus (though some Russian journalists have been expelled by the Belarusian government) thus giving some members of the public, typically those in large cities with many Russian residents acess to an alternative point of view in the Russian language (most city dwelling Belarusians speak and understand Russian).

Probably the most amusing and absurd examples of Belarusian propaganda are terrorist stories. These alleged "terrorists" are going to overthrown President Aleksandr Lukashenko and turn Belarus into a Western colony.

See also : Belarus, Politics of Belarus

External links Non-state controlled media and criticism:

• http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/ Pro-democracy alternative Belarus News
• http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/europe4 Human Rights Watch 2002 Belarus Report
• http://www.zubr-belarus.com/index.php?lang=2 "Bison" Youth Protest Movement
• http://www.osce.org/belarus/ OSCE office in Belarus