Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Amid Election Protests, Belarusian State TV Presenters Walk Off Job RFE/RL State-television presenters in Belarus are signing off for good, fed up with putting a positive spin on the country's turmoil, as some of their viewers take a beating while protesting what they believe to be a rigged presidential election. The television personalities are joining a growing numbers of police officers and factory workers who are walking off the job to send a message to the authorities and the government of President Alyaksandr Lukashenko, who declared a landslide reelection victory on August 9. "It's hard to say 'good morning' when it's actually bad," Andrey Makayonak, a stand-up comedian and prominent face on the Good Morning Belarus program for Belarus-1 (BT) channel, told the [1]daily Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus. At least six on-air presenters have resigned in recent days from the state broadcasting company, including Makayonak who announced his departure on August 12 after the third-straight day of demonstrations that have been met with a harsh response from Belarusian security services. The walkouts are significant since state TV dominates Belarusian broadcasting for news and entertainment programming, and it is a primary source of news for a large majority of Belarusians. More than 6,700 people have reportedly been detained since the election, and harrowing images and reports of police brutality from the streets of Minsk and other cities have filled up Telegram channels, social-media feeds, and other independent media. But state TV has often played down the street clashes, or demonized the protesters. Makayonak was joined in departing Belteleradio, the national state radio and television company, by [2]TV presenter Volha Bahatyrevich. She announced she was leaving her position at All-National TV in an Instagram post on August 12 that showed her holding her resignation letter. It was accompanied by the message: "We are few, but we are," capped by emoticons showing gestures used by the opposition. The same day, Uladzimir Burko, the host of the Defense Ministry's Arsenal program that also aired on BT, announced his departure. So, too, did Vera Karetnikava, a host for both BT and the STV channel. View this post on Instagram [3]ÐÑем пÑивеÑ. ÐÐµÐ½Ñ Ð·Ð¾Ð²ÑÑ ÐÐ»Ð°Ð´Ð¸Ð¼Ð¸Ñ ÐÑÑко. Я ведÑÑий меÑопÑиÑÑий и до недавнего вÑемени ведÑÑий военной пÑогÑÐ°Ð¼Ð¼Ñ Â«ÐÑÑенал» на канале "ÐелаÑÑÑÑ 1". 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ÐÑди ÑоÑÑÑ ÑпÑаведливоÑÑи, лÑди пÑоÑÑÑ Ð¸Ñ Ð½Ðµ обманÑваÑÑ, лÑди пÑоÑÑÑ ÑвободÑ. Ðа поÑледний пÑÐ½ÐºÑ Ð¾ÑвеÑаеÑе именно вÑ, Ñак ÑÑо вÑÑ Ð¿Ð¾Ð»ÑÑиÑÑÑ. ÐÑ ÑÑдом и вÑегда поможем. #ведÑÑийвладимиÑбÑÑко #мÑзаÑеÑÑнÑеновоÑÑи #неÑвойне A post shared by [4]' ' ' ' ' ' ' ÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ ÐУРÐÐ (@vladimir_burko) on Aug 12, 2020 at 9:12am PDT View this post on Instagram References Visible links 1. https://www.kp.by/daily/217168/4269216/ 2. https://www.svaboda.org/a/30780592.html 3. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDy438jnqye/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading 4. https://www.instagram.com/vladimir_burko/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading Hidden links: 5. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDy438jnqye/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading 6. https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0vkXrHUms/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading .