Latvian MPs appeared on the air of Belarusian state TV, although they did not give it an interview. How did that happen?

Latvian Saeima MPs Juris Vīlums and Oleg Burov. Collage Delfi.lv

For half an hour, the authors of the propaganda program on Belarusian state TV tried to convey the idea that politicians in the EU are detached from reality, refuting their comments with "facts" and opinions of "ordinary" people. The program used video fragments featuring Latvian Saeima MPs Juris Vīlums and Oleg Burov.

In one fragment, Vīlums says in Russian that he "sees no reason to live peacefully while the Russian Federation exists in its current dimensions." Burov's opinion is broadcast more widely: he talks about the difficult economic situation in Latvia and the need to increase the defense budget, emphasizing that funds should be directed not only to the purchase of equipment from abroad but also to the development of local production, for example, drones.

In addition, Burov noted that he was last in Belarus for New Year's in 2020 and spoke positively about the Belarusian people, calling them open and friendly.

The program also showed a report featuring a woman, presumably from Latvia, who claims that her acquaintance pays more than 300 euros for heating a two-room apartment and after paying the bills, she has no money left for food. Furthermore, the program claims that mortality in Latvia is twice as high as in the EU, and that people are massively leaving the country. All this narrative is contrasted with a positive image of life in Belarus.

The program "Ponyatnaya Politika" is hosted by Sergei Gusachenka, who is included in the EU sanctions list.

Latvian Saeima MPs deny having spoken with Belarusian propagandists. Burov stated that he "did not give an interview to either this program or this journalist." He added that during his work, he has communicated with Ukrainian and Russian opposition journalists working in Europe.

Vīlums also stated that he did not give comments to the Belarusian state TV channel and emphasized that his position regarding the Belarusian authorities is unambiguous, so participation in the work of propaganda media would be unacceptable. At the same time, he recalled that the statement used in the program was made in an interview with two female students who introduced themselves as representatives of "Novaya Gazeta Europe."

This is not the first time that content for Belarusian state propaganda has been created under the guise of "Novaya Gazeta Europe." For example, on March 25, two young people filmed a video at a rally in honor of Freedom Day in Vilnius, allegedly for this resource (one of them said they were paid in cryptocurrency, and the videos were used in a program on the state TV channel STB). Earlier, a fake job offer from the same publication was addressed to Belarusian journalist Nastassia Rahatka, who collaborated with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office.

Last year, some people, on behalf of "Novaya Gazeta Europe," tried to get an interview with Tsikhanouskaya's Office itself. A similar request was also received by the People's Anti-Crisis Management (NAM) led by Pavel Latushka.

Unknown individuals use the name of a real journalist of "Novaya Gazeta Europe," Iryna Haryna. The publication noted that she does not cover Belarus.

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 3
• 0
• 0
• 2
• 0