As stated by the fi rst deputy of the Minister of Information at the press-conference in Minsk in the end of August 2008, all mass media of the Republic of Belarus will be subject to re-registration in February 2009, when the new wording of the Law on Mass Media enters into effect. New wording of the Law on Mass Media provides for defi nitely new framework for mass media in Belarus.

      The most signifi cant innovations of the law refer to the amount of foreign capital in the sector of mass media. Namely, stakes of foreign investors in the share capital of a mass media establishment founder may not exceed 30%. The first deputy of the Ministry of Information assured, however, that this requirement is not applied to mass media establishments which were registered before July 2008, since the law has no retroactive effect. At the same time all mass media establishments registered after July 2008 should comply with requirements on maximum amount of foreign capital in the share capital of their founders.