‘Grave mistake’. Polish media about possible liquidation of Belsat TV


The fate of Belsat TV is being discussed not only in Belarus; Polish media outlets highlight the importance of the project as well. Many journalists, politicians and public figures believe that its termination will harm the development of the Belarusian-Polish relations.

In the article ‘The End of Belsat. What Is Wrong with Our Eastern Policy?’, the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza says that the liquidation of Belsat TV would be a ‘grave mistake’.

“The situation of the laxk of the dialogue between Poland and Belarus was bad. In Minsk a dictator is still in power, but the isolation of the neighboring country hardly gains any effect and even strengthens the dictator… Poland should try to talk to Minsk. It is good that [Foreign Minister] Waszczykowski managed to do it. Perhaps, small steps will make a change?

However, one should not take controversial measures. The decision [closure of Belsat]is a grave mistake. Belsat is the largest and most ambitious Polish project in the East. built from scratch, the TV station and its network of correspondents and experts who have attracted about 500,000 regular viewers, has a great potential for further improving its viewership. This Polish satellite TV in the Belarusian language has been the only window to the big world for residents of Belarusian provinces do not have access to the Internet.


Gazeta Prawna, another business edition, published the article ‘Three Paradoxes of Destruction of Belsat TV’.

“When Polish Senate Speaker Stanisław Karczewski praised the warmth and hospitality of Lukashenka after returning from Minsk, it seemed that nothing worse would happened in our policy towards Belarus for a long time. But we underestimated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs… Increasing support at the cost of cutting funds is quite an ingenious way.

One can think that the transfer of television to the Internet is modernization. But firstly, Belsat TV is already on web, that is why such transfer would not be a qualitative change. Secondly, we should remember that there is no such thing as a free Belarusian Internet – the situation here is worse than that in Russia.”


For many Belarusians, one way to watch the only TV channel broadcasting in Belarusian – is to buy a satellite dich and catch the signal. Belsat TV transfer to the Internet will result in a sudden and drastic decline in its audience engagement,” the Polish portal kresy24.pl warns.

Regardless of their political connotations, the majority of Polish media reporting about the threat to Belsat consider the possible closing of Belsat a blunder that might adversely affect the efficiency of the country’s foreign policy.

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On December 18, Witold Wazczykowski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, voiced the ministry’s plans of Belsat TV transition to a web mode and its journalists’ transfer to TVP Polonia. On December 22, Joanna Wajda, Spokeswoman for the ministry, said that there was no intention to liquidate Belsat TV; modernization and reforms were the case. Belsat ‘in the form of an Internet portal’ could become part of TVP Zagranica (TVP World), she added. However, Belsat TV Director Agnieszka Romaszewska Guzy said that such modernization would mean the end of Belsat TV.

Prominent Belarusians are calling on their compatriots to sign the petition to keep Belsat TV from falling apart. The appeal to to Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Beata Szydło appeared on the website Change.org. By the moment, over 3,000 persons have signed it.

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