OREANDA-NEWS. Since Thursday, July 1, the Belteleradiocompany (BTR) has been deprived of access to certain services provided to members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). At the 86th General Assembly of the EGU, the executive committee of the union suspended the company's membership the day before, effectively confirming the decision taken on May 28.

BTR will not have access to the exchange of music and news content, the right to broadcast various sports and music events, as well as to legal, technical and research expertise and services to protect it's interests.

Explaining this decision, the EBU linked it with the screening of Roman Protasevich's «interview» on the air of the Belarusian company. On May 28, the European Broadcasting Union stressed that the recent «interviews» shown on the Belarusian state television and «clearly obtained under duress» caused particular concern in the EBU. «We also monitored other broadcasts of the Belteleradiocompany on this issue, which raised serious concerns», the press release said.

«In view of all these events and circumstances, we see no other way out but to suspend the membership of the Belteleradiocompany in the EBU», the message continued. The Belarusian authorities had to give an official response to the organization within two weeks, after which the decision was to come into force.