YouTube has taken down the channels of Belarusian state news agency BelTA and television broadcasters ONT and STV, in a move that Belarusian authorities said was linked to sanctions and described as “unfriendly and unfounded”.
Belarusian state media and local independent outlets say the removals took place on April 3, 2026.
State owned news agency BelTA reported the platform cited sanctions as the reason for the takedown, while insisting that the agency itself is not under sanctions. The Belarusian Information Ministry said it had reserved the right to respond, while the foreign ministry also criticised the decision and framed the affected outlets as central to the country’s information sovereignty.
The removals appear to be part of wider enforcement against Belarusian state propaganda outlets, though not all state-backed media have been affected. Reports from Belarus said other channels, including Belteleradiocompany’s First Information service, remained available on YouTube after the action against BelTA, ONT and STV.
Independent Belarusian outlets said the takedowns may be tied either to sanctions on the organisations behind the channels or to broader platform enforcement. Reform.news reported that Belarusian state broadcasters reacted by warning that YouTube itself could face pressure inside Belarus, while state media also cautioned viewers against fake replacement channels.
The move follows earlier action by Western technology platforms against Russian state media after the invasion of Ukraine, and suggests enforcement is now being applied more directly to Belarusian state broadcasters as well.
