EBU to suspend membership of Belarusian public broadcaster
LRT.lt2021.05.28 16:27
Media (associative image) / E. Genys/LRT
The Executive Board of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has suspended the membership of the Belarusian public broadcaster over its complicity in the government's crackdown on opposition.
The Belarusian Television and Radio Company, or Belteleradio (BTRC), has two weeks to respond to concerns raised by the EBU before the suspension comes into effect.
“The EBU has been closely monitoring the suppression of media freedom in Belarus and have consistently called on BTRC, as a Member of the EBU, to uphold our core values of freedom of expression, independence and accountability,” the EBU said in a statement on Friday.
Thomas Bellut is ZDF’s Director General since 2012
Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė is LRT’s Director General since 2018
Fran Unsworth is a member of the BBC Board and is responsible for the BBC’s current affairs and news programming
One member rejoins the board
Alexander Wrabetz (ORF) is back on the Executive Board after having served as an EBU Board Member from 2011-2016. He has been the Director General of ORF since 2007.
Three women on the board
Ms. Delphine Ernotte Cunci (incoming EBU President) says:
I’m glad we could gather a great cast of skills and experience and also keep the balance of the geographical, economical and cultural diversity of the EBU Members in the composition of the new Executive Board. For the first time, I’m also proud to include 3 women on the board.