European Radio for Belarus

European Radio for Belarus (ERB; Belarusian: Еўрапейскае радыё для Беларусі, romanized: Eŭrapéjskaje Rádyjo dla Biełarúsi; Russian: Европейское радио для Беларуси), also known as Euroradio (Еврорадио), is an international radio station that provides independent news, information, and entertainment to the citizens of Belarus. It launched on February 26, 2006.[1] ERB operates on FM, OIRT FM, Internet, and Satellite to reach the widest audience. Its staff includes around 20 people in the Warsaw office and ten journalists in the Minsk office.[2]

European Radio for Belarus
TypeRadio network
AvailabilityInternational
OwnerIndependent
Launch date
2006
Official website
euroradio.by
euroradio.fm
LanguageBelarusian, Russian

The mission of the radio is to deliver factual, current, independent, trustworthy and up-to-date information to Belarusian listeners about events in Belarus and rest of the world, as well as to promote European democratic values.[3] The project also aims to assist the development of a new generation of journalists, who will be able to work professionally in Belarus in the future during a transition to democracy and free market. The station has one of the highest ratings among propaganda-free media in Belarus.[4][5]

History

Launch

Euroradio was established by the Belarusian journalist Dmitry Novikov, former head of the popular Minsk Radio 101.2, which was shut down by the authorities in 1996.[2] Novikov was also one of the Radio Racja founders. He established European Radio for Belarus as a non-profit organization in September 2005 in Warsaw, Poland. Other participants in the launch were Belarusian journalists as well as BAJ, NGOs from Poland, Lithuania, and Czech Republic. The core of the staff was formed by experienced journalists - Slava Koran, Sergey Akhramovich, Hanna Borowska.[6][7]

ERB first broadcast was on February 26, 2006.[7][6] The station targeted the youth audience and aimed for a 70/30 balance of music and news.[6] The headquarters were located at Puławska Street in Warsaw’s Mokotów district.[2]

Editors Office

In the Summer of 2009 Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs finally allowed ERB to open its correspondent office in Minsk.[8] Since then the Minsk office has been responsible for content creation, while the one in Warsaw supported broadcasting.[6]

In November 2009 ERB received a yearly accreditation for broadcasting. Chairman of the Euroradio board Dmitry Novikov commented that the step was taken by the government only after the EU pressure.[8] The accreditation has to be prolonged yearly.[9][10] By 2014 ERB audience was around 300,000, mostly 18-30 years old.[11]

Euradio was headed by Julia Slutzkaya until 2010 when she had to leave the country after presidential elections.[12] Vitaliy Zubluk became the new chief editor, he resigned in 2016 and became the general producer. He was succeeded by famous blogger Victor Malishesvky.[13][14] Dr. Anastasiya Ilyina was an editor of ERB in 2010–2019.[15] On April 2, 2018, Victor Malishevsky took the post of creative editor, Pavel Sverdlov became ERB chief editor.[13]

In 2019 the station underwent restructuring, five journalists from the Warsaw office and several in Minsk were made redundant. Chief editor Sverdlov commented on this as on business optimization. The anonymous source explained that ERB funding had recently decreased significantly.[16]

On July 31, 2023, the European Parliament passed a resolution in which it asks the European Commission and the Member States, to strengthen Belarusian media outlets, including European Radio for Belarus.[17]

Content

Music

A significant part of the broadcasting is taken up by world and Belarusian (about 10%) music.[2] ERB initiates various projects to support Belarusian musicians including annual Be Free festival in Ukraine, the «Belarusian: Даём рады» awards,[18] publishing of the Budzma The Best Rock / Budzma The Best Rock/New compilation.[19][20]

Programs

Each hour starts with a news bulletin of approximately 3 minutes in length followed by the short news update in the middle of the hour. In addition, broadcasting consists of economic, cultural, and sports programs as well as experts’ commentary on the wide variety of issues. Guests and Interviewees on ERB's daily programs include prominent politicians and other recognized public figures as well as representatives of independent Belarusian youth communities and organizations. ERB provides special news updates on breaking news as necessary.[2][21]

News bulletins are broadcast daily from 7 am to 10 pm three times per hour. ERB has three flagship programs – EuroZOOM, Petard, and Cardiogram. EuroZoom is a daily informational program that covers Belarus in the political and cultural space of Europe.[22] Petard presents the five most actual topics of the current events. Cardiogram is dedicated to the human rights agenda.[2] The programs are also broadcast by several Lithuanian and Ukrainian stations. In September 2009 the Belarusian Ministry of Information sent an official warning to Autoradio for broadcasting EuroZoom.[23][24]

Investigations

ERB gradually developed its own section of investigative journalism.[7] The reporters worked on important, controversial topics, many of which are not allowed to be covered on state media.[25] For example, in 2013 Yauhen Valoshyn published his investigation on the poppy seeds market in Belarus.[6][26]

On September 9, 2014, ERB journalist Dmitry Lukashuk interviewed DNR Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko. Two days later Lukashuk facilitated release from captivity of 8 Ukrainian soldiers, directly asking Zakharchenko to free these men.[27][28]

State pressure

All TV and radio channels in Belarus are governmental and controlled by the BelTA agency.[29] The Belarusian journalists and chief editors open up about KGB following their steps and wiretap their calls. According to them, every independent media in the country has its own ‘curator’ in KGB, the officers have a schedule - one official interrogation per year and two unofficial ones.[30]

In 2008 the editors office was searched by the police, almost all equipment was confiscated. The staff relocated to Warsaw.[31]

After the presidential elections 2010, Zybluk was detained and interrogated by KGB.[30] On December 25, 2010, the police searched ERB Minsk news office and confiscated almost all equipment from it.[32] The search was performed on Saturday, when no staff members were present at the office, and without warning.[33]

In 2012 Pavel Sverdlov was detained by the police on his way home from the office, he was sentenced for 15 days in prison for ‘swearing in a public place’.[34] Sverdlov wasn’t allowed to meet a lawyer, his case was based on contradicting testimonies of two policemen. In six months he was refused the journalist’s press accreditation because of this conviction.[35]

During the presidential elections in 2015 Belarusian independent press faced constraints in access to information.[36] ERB website blocked on October 12, 2015.[37]

During the protest rallies after presidential election 2020 in Belarus independent media were blocked inside the country, the Internet was cut out since August 9. Euroradio.by website was under DDoS attack.[38] ERB journalists were many times detained by the police while covering news on protest rallies after the elections.[39][40][41]

In 2021 and 2022, Belarusian courts added the Telegram, YouTube, Instagram pages of the radio and its logo to the Republican list of extremist materials;[42] in July 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus designated it as an extremist group.[43] In 2022 and 2023, several people who have been interviewed by the radio were arrested and imprisoned for it on charges of assisting extremist activity.[44][45][46]

Awards
  • ERB journalist Maryna "Rusya" Shukyurava received ‘П’еро’ Award inFreedom of Speech nomination (2009);[47]
  • Dmitry Lukashuk got first prize at BAJ ‘Вольнае слова’ Competition (2015).[48]

References
  1. Biener, Hansjörg (2009). "Radio for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights". University of Erlangen–Nuremberg. Archived from the original on 2017-09-09. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  2. Berardi, Lorenzo (2016-01-13). "Euroradio: from Warsaw for Belarus". Open Democracy. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  3. "У нас нет теплых отношений с белорусскими властями" [We Don’t Have Warm Relationship With Belarusian Authorities] (in Russian). Radio Prague International. 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  4. ""Популярности Лукашенко завидуют политики". Как национальные СМИ нарушали стандарты в апреле" [“Other Politicians Envy Lukashenko’s Popularity”: How National Media Violated Standards in April] (in Russian). Media IQ. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. "Лидер по пропаганде в мае — "СБ. Беларусь сегодня"" [Belarus Today Leads in State Propaganda in May] (in Russian). Media IQ. 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  6. "Euroradio Turns 10". Belarusian Association of Journalists. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  7. ""Мечтаем о нормальном FM-вещании в Беларуси" — "Еврорадио" исполнилось 10 лет" [‘We Dream About Proper FM Broadcast in Belarus’ - Euroradio Turns 10] (in Russian). Nasha Niva. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  8. ""Еврорадио" аккредитовали на год" [Euroradio Receives Accreditation for 1 Year] (in Russian). Naviny.by. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  9. "Еврорадио продлили аккредитацию в Беларуси" [Euroradio Prolongs Accreditation in Belarus] (in Russian). Naviny.by. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  10. "Корреспондента "Еврорадио" не допустили на пресс-конференцию в Палату представителей" [Euroradio Reporter Refused Access to Press-Conference at the House of Representatives] (in Russian). Belarusian Association of Journalists. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  11. "Чехия может подключиться к информационной войне с Россией" [Czech Could Join Media War Against Russia] (in Russian). Deutsche Welle. 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  12. "Главный редактор "Еврорадио" покинула свой пост и создает в Польше новый PR-проект" [Euroradio Chief Editor Resigns and Launches New PR-Project in Poland] (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  13. "У "Еврорадио" сменился главный редактор" [New Editor in Euroradio] (in Russian). Naviny.by. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  14. "Блогер Виктор Малишевский стал главредом "Еврорадио"" [Victor Malishevsky Heads Euroradio] (in Russian). Charter97. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  15. "The Stalemate of Deepened Integration: Analysis of the Russian Anti-Belarus Disinformation Campaign in 2019". WEASA. 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  16. "Что происходит с Еврорадио?" [What Happened to Euroradio?] (in Russian). Nasha Niva. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  17. "REPORT on relations with Belarus". europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  18. Прокопович, Виктория (2013-04-16). "Отчего в Беларуси нет своей "Грэмми"?" [Why There’s No Grammy in Belarus?] (in Russian). TUT.BY. Archived from the original on 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  19. "Пераможцы інтэрнэт-адбору маладых музыкаў: Re1ikt, Цукерка, Hair Peace Salon, ESPRIT, VS[RIP]" [Young Musicians Award Laureates: Re1ikt, Sweetie, Hair Peace Salon, ESPRIT, VS [RIP]] (in Belarusian). Budzma Belarusians!. 2009-04-20. Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  20. "Чем молодые группы удивят на Be Free?" [What Surprises Will Be at ‘Be Free’ Fest?]. European Radio for Belarus (in Russian). Belarusian Partisan. 2009-08-18. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  21. "Не всем сестрам по серьгам. Конспект медиатока о журналистике на выборах" [Not Everyone Gets What he Deserves: Media Talk About Journalism during Elections] (in Russian). Press Club Belarus. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  22. "Belarus : Supporting independent broadcasting and freedom of expression". IREX Europe. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  23. "'Autoradio' gets warned for joint project with European Radio for Belarus". Viasna Human Rights Centre. 2009-10-06. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  24. "Mass media freedom 'hostage' of official Minsk". Human Rights House. 2009-10-12. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  25. "Femicide inEastern Europe: the Right Word for Murdering Women" (in Russian). Moscow Women Museum. 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  26. "Как я побывал в притоне, где варят "ширку"" [How I Went to Drug Den Where They Cook Shirka] (in Russian). "Салiдарнасць" Newspaper. 2013-11-06. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  27. "При помощи Еврорадио из плена освобождены 8 украинских военных" [Euroradio Helped Rescue 8 Ukrainian Soldiers from Captivity] (in Russian). Euroradio. 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  28. "Премьер-министр ДНР — Еврорадио: Как думаете, Лукашенко нас признает?" [DNR Prime Minister: Do You Think Lukashenko Will Acknowledge US?] (in Russian). Euroradio. 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  29. Доклад специального докладчика по вопросу о положении в области прав человека в Беларуси [Human Rights in Belarus] (PDF). The United Nations General Assembly. 2014-04-22. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  30. "Belarusian media is 'on the edge of survival' amid crackdown". The Washington Post. 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  31. "Екатерина Борисевич о работе с МВД: Если кому-то не угодил, просто делают вид, что тебя нет" [Ekaterina Borisevich on Work with Department of Home Affairs: They Just Ignore You, If You’re Not Good Enough] (in Russian). Belarusian Association of Journalists. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  32. "Генпрокуратура: Действия сотрудников КГБ, изъявших аппаратуру у "Еврорадио", законны" [General Prosecutor Says KGB Legally Confiscated all Technics from Euroradio] (in Russian). Gazeta.by. 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  33. "Обысканы офисы "Европейского радио для Беларуси" и "Белсата"" [Searches in Euroradio and Belsat Offices] (in Russian). EJ.by. 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  34. "МИД лишил аккредитации журналиста за нецензурную брань" [MFA Revoked Accreditation for Alleged Swearing] (in Russian). Moy.by. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
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  37. "Ограничения свободы деятельности в Интернете / 1.10.2015-31.12.2016" [Internet Freedom of Speech Restrictions] (in Russian). Belarusian Association of Journalists. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  38. "Мы оказались в полном информационном локдауне" [“We Were in Information Lockdown”] (in Russian). Media IQ. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  39. "Журналистов "Еврорадио" задержали во время акции в Минске" [Euroradio Journalists Detained at Minsk Rally] (in Russian). Novaya Gazeta. 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  40. "В Белоруссии заблокировали несколько десятков информационных сайтов. Среди них — "Радио Свобода" и "Медиазона"" [Several Dozen of Independent Media Websites Blocked in Belarus, Including Radio Freedom and Mediazone] (in Russian). Meduza. 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  41. "В Минске милиция задержала несколько десятков протестующих студентов". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  42. Республиканский список экстремистских материалов
  43. "Belarus adds Euroradio to list of 'extremist formations'". Novaya Gazeta Europe. 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  44. ""Улады праводзяць масіраваную кампанію па барацьбе з незалежнымі СМІ для апраўдання рэпрэсій"". Novy Chas (in Belarusian). 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  45. "Белорусского военного аналитика Егора Лебедка приговорили к пяти годам колонии за интервью "деструктивному каналу"". Current Time TV (in Russian). 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  46. "В Беларуси уволенную доцентку лингвистического университета Наталью Дулину осудили на 3,5 года колонии за интервью". Current Time TV (in Russian). 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  47. "Состоялось вручение премии для журналистов, работающих с темой ЛГБТ" [‘П’еро’ Award for Journalists Working on LGBT] (in Russian). Euroradio. 2009-10-14. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  48. "Белорусская ассоциация журналистов наградила победителей творческого конкурса "Вольнае слова" 2015 года" [Belarusian Association of Journalists Announces ‘Вольнае слова’ Competition Laureates] (in Russian). BelaPAN. 2015-05-07. Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
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