Affiliated media: First Music Channel, TV channel

Incident date: September 2, 2025

Attack type:

• Shutting down a media outlet / blocking an Internet site/ seizure of an entire print run

Who attacked: Unknown sources

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

The Belarusian Ministry of Information has announced the annulment of the state registration of the “First Music Channel”. The certificate was cancelled on the basis of an application from Music Channel LLC. By order of the Ministry of Information, the television channel was removed from the State Register of Mass Media. The decision to cease broadcasting from 1 September was taken by First Music LLC on 25 August 2025 at a general meeting of the company’s members. Earlier, on 13 May 2025, the Ministry of Information issued a written warning to the founder of the First Music Channel. It was noted that the reason was “the founders’ failure to comply with the requirements for television programmes as set out in the media legislation”. The channel had been operating since 2002 as a specialised music television channel aimed at promoting contemporary Belarusian culture and developing the Belarusian music market.