MINSK, 7 April (BelTA) – The Union of Bulgarian Journalists (UBJ) has condemned the blocking of Belarusian media outlets on YouTube. This is stated in an address signed by UBJ Chair Snezhana Todorova, which was sent to the Belarusian Union of Journalists (BUJ), BelTA learned from the BUJ.
“The removal of three major Belarusian media outlets (ONT and STV TV channels and the BelTA news agency) from the YouTube platform is not only a blatant violation of freedom of speech but also an infringement of the public’s right to receive information from diverse sources,” the address says.
“The duty of journalists is to work in the interests of society, not in the interests of platform owners who engage in political discrimination by suppressing unwanted voices in the digital environment. The right to information is a fundamental principle of a democratic society. The Union of Bulgarian Journalists has repeatedly expressed disagreement with media bans, as they violate the public’s right to information. We condemn censorship and the policy of double standards,” the UBJ noted.
The organization also expressed deep concern that in recent months, in Europe and worldwide, pressure has been mounting not only on alternative media but also on freedom of thought, freedom of expression, critical thinking, independent viewpoints, and even the defense of human and international rights when these concern the “wrong” side of a regional or geopolitical conflict. “The time has come to protest against false information that suppresses conscience, morality, and the human ability to distinguish truth from lies, good from evil, peace from war, before it is too late, before we hear the click of the lock with which they intend to shut away the truth!” the address emphasized.
As it was reported earlier, YouTube removed the official channels of BelTA, ONT, and STV on 3 April. The American company Google, which owns the platform, provided no explanation. The Belarusian Information Ministry criticized this unfounded step and reserves the right to take necessary response measures.
BelTA projects can be viewed on VK Video and on VIDEOBEL.BY, where video content from all Belarusian major media outlets is also available.
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