The European Radio and Television Union (EBU) is an association of national television and radio companies in Europe, which, among other things, is behind the Eurovision song contest.
In a press release, the EBU states that it has "closely monitored the situation of free media in Belarus" and has consistently called on the BTRC to uphold and work for the Union's core values of freedom of expression, independence and accountability.
But after reports of interviews conducted under duress, where, among other things, the journalist Raman Pratasevich's suspected forced confession was broadcast on BTRC's channels, the EBU now chooses to exclude BTRC.
24 journalists imprisoned
BTRC has two weeks to respond to the message before the exclusion takes effect.
Freedom of the press in Belarus is considered to be very weak.
According to the organization Reporters Without Borders, at least 24 journalists are currently arbitrarily imprisoned in the country, and another seven are under house arrest.
- The situation of free journalism in Belarus has crossed all borders.
The EBU has made the only reasonable decision.
It is with horror that I have followed the development in Belarus and this is an important mark for freedom of expression and the independence of journalism, says SVT's CEO Hanna Stjärne.
Demand for exclusion
Earlier this year, the Swedish liberal Karin Karlsbro took the initiative for a campaign to stop the country from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.
She believes that a collaboration between the EBU and the Belarusian state television is unacceptable because its head Ivan Eismont is on the EU's sanctions list of people who violate human rights.
The Solidarity Fund for Culture in Belarus has also demanded that the Belarusian broadcaster be excluded from Eurovision on the grounds that the broadcaster is persecuting its own employees.