Russian Scabs Rescue BT

Belarusians replaced at state-controlled TV stations

As I recall, independent Belarusian television died a violent death during 1996. They were either turned into vomit bags for the self-proclaimed president or were closed down over the next couple of years.

It took much longer to kill off the most successful independent radio stations and newspapers. That task was largely accomplished in by the early 2000s, although a back door to the IP backbone provided a haven for some (until the KGB took it over).

Most alternative (to state-controlled electronic media) has for the last decade or so operated outside the country. Thankfully, not so with Telegram and new messaging services, like Viber.

Reports that Russians are being flown into Minsk to replace striking technicians at Belarusian state television channels (BT/ONT) is interesting. And ominous.