An NTV television journalist expelled from Belarus for what authorities said was ""viciously biased"" reporting received a hero's welcome Tuesday in Moscow from his employer and press-freedom advocates. Alexander Stupnikov, the Minsk bureau chief for the private Russian television station, was expelled from Belarus last week as protest against President Alexander Lukashenko's government increased. In its order expelling Stupnikov, a Russian-born Israeli citizen, the Interior Ministry said NTV's coverage of events in Belarus was ""viciously biased, undermining the friendship between Belarus and Russia and insulting people's feelings."" It capped more than a year of government accusations that Stupnikov and NTV were deliberately biased and working ""for the opposition."" The case has given human-rights and press-freedom activists new ammunition against a possible union between Russia and Belarus.