Events

Lukashenko orders to finalize bill on advertising in mass media promptly

MINSK, 25 March (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has given an instruction to finalize the bill regulating advertising in mass media within the shortest time possible, Information Minister Vladimir Pertsov told journalists following the meeting with the head of state on 25 March, BelTA has learned.

“The head of state has given an instruction to work out as soon as possible - by the end of the month - the bill discussed today and other regulations (perhaps a little unpopular) that will help primarily the state-run media and other patriotic media to survive in this difficult period when market regulation measures, regular business operation measures do not quite work,” Vladimir Pertsov said.

According to him, the bill is expected to help Belarusian mass media outlets to operate and develop efficiently. “Our country has the potential for this. Mass media outlets must fulfill the main task - to promptly convey truthful, objective information to residents of our country and abroad,” the minister emphasized.

“As for the advertising fee and the trust fund for the creation of national content, the tax base is not so large yet. In a normal period, it would be Br30 million or more. Since the advertising market dropped a little, this is no more than 9 (million Belarusian rubles). Yet, during normal operation of the advertising market, this will also be an effective incentive for the media to create a national media product, content for television, radio, print media and, importantly, the internet,” Vladimir Pertsov added.

A reminder, the bill regulating advertising in mass media was discussed at a meeting on mass media hosted by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 25 March. The bill had already been considered several times from various sides by the government and the Belarus President Administration.

“The situation has changed dramatically. And not for the better. As a result of the current geopolitical conflict, Russia and Belarus were subjected to a new barrage of predatory sanctions,” the president noted. Such pressure might continue, therefore a decision should be made on how to act in the current situation, the head of state is sure. “What are we going to do? What should we do? Do we have real tools to support mass media in the current situation? I would like to hear answers to these questions, first of all, from the information minister,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

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