Russia's State Broadcaster Resumes Work In Minsk

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (R) with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin (file photo) (epa) 12 January 2006 -- A Russian media report says the Belarusian government has decided to allow Russia's state broadcaster to resume work in Belarus.

ITAR-TASS cites a Belarusian government spokesman, Alyaksandr Tsimashenka, as saying the government had decided to allow VGTRK, Russia's state television and radio broadcaster, to reopen its office in Minsk.

Belarusian authorities closed the station's Minsk office last year and canceled the accreditation of its reporters.

At the time, Russian media said the decision was a response to accusations that VGTRK's coverage of an opposition rally in Minsk had been biased. The Russian broadcaster rejected those charges, and the Russian Foreign Ministry protested the decision.

(ITAR-TASS, polit.ru)