Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK184
2006-02-21 12:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
State Media Focuses only on Lukashenko
VZCZCXYZ0012 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSK #0184 0521232 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211232Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3818 INFO RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 3546 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 3203 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 3135 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3326 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 1559 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0878 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 000184
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: State Media Focuses only on Lukashenko
UNCLAS MINSK 000184
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: State Media Focuses only on Lukashenko
1. (SBU) Summary: The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)
monitored Belarusian media coverage of the March presidential
elections from 28 January to 10 February. BAJ found that state
media focused almost exclusively on Lukashenko, portraying him in a
positive light. For the most part, state media referred to the
opposition as a non-personified body, although it gave some
negative coverage to opposition candidate Milinkevich. Independent
newspapers devoted some space to all candidates, but they lack the
reach of state media. End summary.
Electronic Media
--------------
2. (SBU) During this period state television launched three special
programs: a series of pro-Lukashenko rock concerts called "For
Belarus," and the anti-Western and anti-opposition "documentaries"
`Agent 590' and `Spiritual War'. During this period news on state-
owned channel Belarus Television (BT) devoted 43% of its coverage
to Lukashenko, 0.2% to Milinkevich, and 0.02% to Kozulin and
Gaidukevich. Of the 98 stories on Lukashenko, 88 were positive and
10 neutral in tone. The stories on Kozulin and Gaidukevich were
neutral, while those on Milinkevich were neutral or negative. Per
episode, state TV channel ONT averaged 30 minutes of coverage of
Lukashenko, 15 seconds to Gaidukevich, and 10 seconds each to
Milinkevich and Kozulin. State radio news had essentially the same
proportion. There is no nationwide independent electronic media.
Print Media
--------------
3. (SBU) State newspapers Sovietskaya Belarussia (SB) and Zvyazda
devoted 0.7% of their reporting to negative articles on
Milinkevich, and did not mention Kozulin or Gaidukevich at all.
Zvyazda devoted 76.3% of its coverage to positive stories about
Lukashenko, while SB gave him a similar amount of space. The
editor-in-chief of SB, Pavel Yakubovich, wrote on 7 February, "I
cannot get rid of the feeling that, despite his respectable
exterior, Milinkevich is a dangerous man." Independent papers
covered all candidates: Narodnaya Volya (NV) gave 20.3% of its
coverage to Lukashenko, 8.77% to Kozulin, and 6% to Milinkevich;
Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) devoted 30.7% to Milinkevich, 23.4%
Lukashenko, 14.4% Kozulin, and 7% Gaidukevich; Nasha Niva (NN) gave
49.08% to Milinkevich, 24.97% to Kozulin, 24.79 to Lukashenko, and
0.26% to Gaidukevich. NV and NN gave Milinkevich and Kozulin
positive coverage, and Lukashenko negative, while KP gave
Milinkevich and Lukashenko positive coverage, and the rest neutral.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) This divide in coverage between state and independent
media is no surprise. However, after years of government pressure
independent media reaches only a fraction of the audience than does
state media. There is no notable independent television or FM/AM
radio in Belarus, and state newspapers have ten times the
circulation of the independents. Given this imbalance, and the
regime's use of state media to support Lukashenko and largely
ignore the rest of the candidates, it is difficult to see how any
elections conducted in this media environment could be considered
fair. KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: State Media Focuses only on Lukashenko
1. (SBU) Summary: The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)
monitored Belarusian media coverage of the March presidential
elections from 28 January to 10 February. BAJ found that state
media focused almost exclusively on Lukashenko, portraying him in a
positive light. For the most part, state media referred to the
opposition as a non-personified body, although it gave some
negative coverage to opposition candidate Milinkevich. Independent
newspapers devoted some space to all candidates, but they lack the
reach of state media. End summary.
Electronic Media
--------------
2. (SBU) During this period state television launched three special
programs: a series of pro-Lukashenko rock concerts called "For
Belarus," and the anti-Western and anti-opposition "documentaries"
`Agent 590' and `Spiritual War'. During this period news on state-
owned channel Belarus Television (BT) devoted 43% of its coverage
to Lukashenko, 0.2% to Milinkevich, and 0.02% to Kozulin and
Gaidukevich. Of the 98 stories on Lukashenko, 88 were positive and
10 neutral in tone. The stories on Kozulin and Gaidukevich were
neutral, while those on Milinkevich were neutral or negative. Per
episode, state TV channel ONT averaged 30 minutes of coverage of
Lukashenko, 15 seconds to Gaidukevich, and 10 seconds each to
Milinkevich and Kozulin. State radio news had essentially the same
proportion. There is no nationwide independent electronic media.
Print Media
--------------
3. (SBU) State newspapers Sovietskaya Belarussia (SB) and Zvyazda
devoted 0.7% of their reporting to negative articles on
Milinkevich, and did not mention Kozulin or Gaidukevich at all.
Zvyazda devoted 76.3% of its coverage to positive stories about
Lukashenko, while SB gave him a similar amount of space. The
editor-in-chief of SB, Pavel Yakubovich, wrote on 7 February, "I
cannot get rid of the feeling that, despite his respectable
exterior, Milinkevich is a dangerous man." Independent papers
covered all candidates: Narodnaya Volya (NV) gave 20.3% of its
coverage to Lukashenko, 8.77% to Kozulin, and 6% to Milinkevich;
Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) devoted 30.7% to Milinkevich, 23.4%
Lukashenko, 14.4% Kozulin, and 7% Gaidukevich; Nasha Niva (NN) gave
49.08% to Milinkevich, 24.97% to Kozulin, 24.79 to Lukashenko, and
0.26% to Gaidukevich. NV and NN gave Milinkevich and Kozulin
positive coverage, and Lukashenko negative, while KP gave
Milinkevich and Lukashenko positive coverage, and the rest neutral.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) This divide in coverage between state and independent
media is no surprise. However, after years of government pressure
independent media reaches only a fraction of the audience than does
state media. There is no notable independent television or FM/AM
radio in Belarus, and state newspapers have ten times the
circulation of the independents. Given this imbalance, and the
regime's use of state media to support Lukashenko and largely
ignore the rest of the candidates, it is difficult to see how any
elections conducted in this media environment could be considered
fair. KROL