International and regional information is very much needed – said the Director of Belsat TV Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy, during the inauguration of the Polish Television and Belsat TV office in Kyiv.
– Our television mission is to serve the residents of these countries to get to know each other better – emphasized Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy
She pointed out that apart from Belarusian, Polish, and English, Belsat TV also has a large segment of information in Russian, which is also received by the audience in Russia. The YouTube channel Vot-Tak has over a million subscribers. Sixty percent of its viewers are Russian. It is also watched, for instance, in Kazakhstan.
– We now have more information since the start of the full-scale war invasion. However, there is currently a communication war where news is used as a weapon. Just like a lethal weapon, information can also be used as one. We must participate in this war to some extent, as there is no other option. The Director of Belsat emphasized that having a good and unbiased understanding of Ukraine is crucial.
Aliaksei Dzikavitski, Deputy Director of Belsat TV, said that opening a new office is extremely important, as the station actively reports what is happening in Ukraine.
– It is essential to provide accurate information about the current events in Ukraine during this brutal war that the Russians started. Our goal is to become a self-sufficient news outlet. To achieve this, we aim to have correspondents, operators, and journalists in various locations to produce our content without relying on intermediaries.
He emphasized the value of this matter, particularly at present, because – “Ukrainians are also fighting for us, for Belarus.”
– I believe that if the aggressor in Ukraine is defeated, it could lead to the fall of the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Belarus, which the Kremlin supports- Deputy Director of TV Belsat voiced.
Ilya Suzdalev, the head of the Belsat office in Kyiv, mentioned that while the Belsat representative office in Ukraine has been in operation since 2018, a new and bigger office is now being opened.
– The Belsat TV is increasing the number of journalists working in Kyiv due to its expanding programming and increased focus on events in Ukraine. Currently, there are three permanent reporter groups in Kyiv. They provide daily photos, including those from the front lines. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to expand the number of these groups even further.
Following the outbreak of full-scale war, Belsat TV began partially rebroadcasting a 24-hour news program called the “tele-marathon.” The program was a joint effort between Ukrainian public and private television channels and was broadcasted in Ukrainian. Belsat also produces a program called “Bezviz” which features hosts from Belarus and Ukraine who speak their native languages. Additionally, Belsat broadcasts the “Meet” internet format in Ukrainian. Belsat TV reporters go to areas where fighting is happening, even in occupied territories.
-I think that establishing TVP and Belsat’s office and studio in Kyiv holds significance beyond Polish-Ukrainian relations. Truth is always the first to die in war. I believe that for justice to be served, democracy and truth must prevail. I am convinced that the team working here will contribute to restoring justice, truth, and freedom of speech in Ukraine and the region, said the Polish Ambassador to Kyiv, Bartosz Cichocki, who participated at the event.
He highlighted that viewers in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, and neighboring countries will receive additional particularly interesting information as it is gathered on location. He also hoped that the TVP and the Belsat offices would offer a secure space and assistance to Ukrainian journalists facing challenging times due to the ongoing conflict and economic crisis.
The President of TVP, Mateusz Matyszkowicz, remotely attended the inauguration of the TVP and Belsat studios in Kyiv remotely. Lina Kushch, the First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, was also present.
MaH/belt.eu according to our own info.
Translated by PEV.
