Inter-news Network” Denied Accreditation

Andrey Savinykh, press-secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Belarusian authorities refused to prolong accreditation to the representation of the American charity organization “Inter-news Network” due to the fact that its program was “excluded from the list of the US help, approved by the Belarusian Government”.

According to Radio “Liberty” information, Belarusian representation of “Inter-news Network” has worked in Belarus since 2001, giving consultations to independent regional TV-companies. The aim of the organization was to develop democratic institutions and mass media in post-Soviet countries.

Aliaksandr Parfiantsow, executive director of the representation, is of opinion that this decision of Belarusian authorities was politically motivated and, like closure of the IREX representation, was meant to cut Belarusian independent mass media from foreign support.