Ivan Eismont the Director General of BTRC has revealed that the Belarusian broadcaster is currently suspended from the EBU until 2024.
In an interview with SB.by Ivan Eismont has revealed that BTRC is currently suspended from the European Broadcasting Union for a period of three years from July 1, 2021. This means that currently BTRC will not return as a full member of the European Broadcasting Union until July 1, 2024.
ESCPlus has confirmed that three years is the maximum length of time that a member broadcaster of the EBU can be suspended from the organisation. The EBU does have the ability to review the suspension of BTRC at any time during this three year period and reduce the suspension if it so desires.
The 2024 date means that the next competitive EBU organised competition that BTRC could compete in would be the 2024 edition of Junior Eurovision, while they could not compete in the Eurovision Song Contest until 2025.
BTRC was suspended from the EBU as a result of the use of the channel by the Belarusian Government as a propaganda tool. In August 2020, the Presidential election in Belarus in which incumbent Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected to a sixth term was the subject of widespread claims of electoral fraud. International monitors have labeled the election neither free nor fair. Following the election, significant and widespread protests have occurred in Belarus.
