Belarus Welcomes Times.by—A New State-Aligned Media Player in 2025
A new multimedia news outlet called Times.by launched in Belarus in September 2025. The platform covers national and international news across politics, business, technology, and lifestyle. Its leadership includes figures with ties to state media and government-backed institutions.
The outlet is owned by Times Media Group LLC, a company registered on July 8, 2025. Its director, Alexander Martynkevich, previously served as deputy director of Belarus’s High Technologies Park. Yelena Krutalevich, who also leads the state-run BelTA news agency, serves as Times.by’s editor-in-chief.
Times.by’s political reporting closely follows the official government line. It avoids controversial social topics, sticking to a narrative aligned with state interests. Reports suggest BelTA may have a role in the outlet’s operations, though no official confirmation has been made. There are possible connections to Tochka.by, another media platform registered in September 2022. Tochka.by is run by Tochka Digital Group LLC, founded in 2016 by Aliaksandr Vasiliev and Mikalai Bahamolnikau. Igor Ruban, a graduate of the Minsk Higher Engineering Air Defense Missile School and the Academy of Public Administration, directs Tochka.by and has a background in journalism and IT. Times.by features six main sections: 'Politics', 'Economy', 'Technology', 'Society', 'Lifestyle', and 'Special Projects'. The platform positions itself as a broad news source, though its editorial approach remains cautious on sensitive issues.
Times.by enters Belarus’s media landscape with a leadership team linked to state institutions. Its content strategy focuses on mainstream topics while avoiding direct criticism of authorities. The outlet’s future role in shaping public discourse will depend on how it balances official narratives with independent reporting.
