Martynov: Government does not prevent BELSAT from registering

Belarus and Poland's foreign ministers Sergei Martynov and Radoslaw Sikorski tounched on the issue of media freedom in Belarus during a joint news briefing on February 12 in Warsaw. When asked about the situation with BELSAT TV which has been denied accreditation in Belarus for two years, Sergei Martynov said that the authorities in Belarus do not create hurdles for the channel's registration: Sergei Martynov: “As for the registration of BELSAT, this channel should meet the requirements stipulated by laws. We cannot put BELSAT in a more favorable position than other media”.

He also said that journalist Ivan Shulga has been in prison, because he attacked a police officer. Nevertheless, Radoslaw Sikorski encouraged his Belarusian counterpart once again during the briefing to register BELSAT.

BELSAT reporter Ivan Shulga was detained on February 3 and sentenced to 10 days in prison for hooliganizm.