Avtoradio closed down for broadcasting ads for presidential candidates
A Minsk-based radio station that broadcast
campaign advertisements for opposition presidential candidates has been taken
off the air due to the cancellation of its license, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.
Autoradio went off the air just after
noon local time, one day after the National Commission for Broadcasting pulled
its broadcasting license.
The supervisory body's reported justification for the
action appeared to dovetail with authorities' efforts to cast political dissent
in the wake of last month's tainted presidential vote as seditious.
‘The commission's decision cancels the right of Autoradio to broadcast from the ground in connection with 'its
failure to stick to its declared programming concept and the dissemination of
information that contained public appeals for extremist actions,' Autoradio said in a statement.
During the campaign for last month's presidential election, Autoradio broadcast some campaign
material of opposition candidates Andrei Sannikau and Uladzimir Niakliayeu. The
material was aired as advertisements under formal contracts with the two
candidates.
Autoradio also said in its statement
that there were no objections to those broadcasts during the election campaign
from either the Central Election Commission or the Ministry of Information.
Autoradio said it would appeal the
cancellation of its license in court.
