{"id":183441,"date":"2026-04-13T16:47:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T13:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/183441\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T16:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T13:49:10","slug":"lukasenka-reshuffles-propaganda-department-amid-war-on-the-ideological-front","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/183441\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka reshuffles propaganda department amid \u201cwar on the ideological front\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (freepik.com, mininform.gov.by, ctv.by \/ Pozirk's collage)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka reshuffled his propaganda staff last week, appointing Marat Marka\u016d as culture minister and D\u017amitryj \u017duk as information minister. \u201cAs for our ideological component, a war is currently under way on the ideological front,\u201d the Belarusian ruler told the ministers on April 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marka\u016d\u2019s focus on ideology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Former Information Minister Marka\u016d replaced Rus\u0142an \u010carniecki, an actor by profession who had headed the culture ministry for 16 months. Marka\u016d described culture as \u201can important part of ideology,\u201d largely echoing Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler expressed hope that Marka\u016d would reinvigorate the film industry\u2014something \u010carniecki, in \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s opinion, failed to achieve during his tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka stressed that cinema is among the most important art forms. \u201cIt was not me who said that, but I absolutely support it. The fact that we have neglected cinema is unacceptable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was Vladimir Lenin who emphasized the importance of cinema more than a century ago, when it was indeed one of the most promising art forms given the technological conditions of the time. The Russian revolutionary viewed cinema as a tool to educate and indoctrinate the largely illiterate masses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka recalls Lenin\u2019s statement from his own service as a deputy unit commander for political affairs and as head of the Znaniye (Knowledge) Society in \u0160k\u0142o\u016d, Mahilo\u016d region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although \u0141uka\u0161enka sharply criticized Bie\u0142aru\u015bfilm in June last year\u2014saying, \u201cThere are no movies to watch. We have lost family, youth and children\u2019s audiences\u201d\u2014it is worth noting that the studio\u2019s annual budget is smaller than that of a single Hollywood blockbuster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wary of creative freedom, \u0141uka\u0161enka emphasized ideological conformity: \u201cYou have 320 people\u2014you can produce whatever you want\u2026 this is your business. Most importantly, you must ensure ideologically correct deliverables.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u017duk: an experienced propaganda officer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new information minister, \u017duk, is an experienced government propaganda official. He previously headed the BelTA<\/em> state news agency and the state-run Belarus Segodnya Publishing House (since 2018). He has also been a regular participant in the Club of Editors<\/em> program, which brings together key propaganda officials for televised sessions attacking the opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cD\u017amitryj Alaksandravi\u010d, can I really give you any advice? You are a ready-made man\u2014ideologically literate and fully aware of what needs to be done,\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka said, praising the newly appointed minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is little doubt that \u017duk understands \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s expectations. He is likely to continue expanding the already extensive list of \u201cextremist content\u201d\u2014politically sensitive material banned from distribution\u2014and to maintain the internet censorship policies of his predecessors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After meeting \u0141uka\u0161enka, \u017duk stated that the Belarusian ruler did not intend to ban YouTube, despite the platform removing accounts belonging to three Belarusian propaganda outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know the president\u2019s position: he is not a supporter of prohibitions. We should find other mechanisms of communication with major media platforms,\u201d \u017duk said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to fight on the enemy\u2019s territory, including on YouTube and Instagram,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No replacement for YouTube<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u017duk made it clear that banning YouTube would be technically difficult and of limited value, as the government cannot offer a viable alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny decision, especially one involving a ban, must be carefully considered. Its consequences must be evaluated. It should be rational and effective. If we declare something that we cannot implement, it is better not to declare it at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An outright ban would also be difficult to enforce, as users can find ways to bypass restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the government has little to offer in terms of alternatives. Videobel.by, promoted as Belarus\u2019s first multimedia portal, is no match for YouTube, as it mainly aggregates state media content. There is also a risk that Russia\u2019s Rutube could fill the gap, further increasing Belarus\u2019 dependence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs far as platforms used by Belarusian citizens are concerned, one must act with extra caution,\u201d \u017duk noted, hinting at potential public discontent that a hypothetical YouTube ban could trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also worth noting that most Belarusian propaganda outlets remain active on YouTube despite their frequent use of inflammatory rhetoric. Officials recognize the platform\u2019s value for disseminating their messages and understand that banning it would ultimately be self-defeating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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