Archive
31.12.2023
Belarusian media workers behind bars. Portraits
As campaigning for the 2020 elections began, the Belarusian authorities launched a war on journalists and independent media. They were stripped of their press cards, beaten, shot with rubber bullets, arrested and detained for weeks, and charged with criminal offenses. Since then, journalists have been arrested on more than 500 occasions. The Belarusian Association of Journalists monitors all cases of harassment of journalists and media workers. Below, you will find information on those imprisoned on criminal charges.
25.05.2023
Journalists are not criminals! An action was held in the center of Malmö in support of Belarusian colleagues
The initiative to this gathering was taken by the “Organization for exchange between BAJ and SJF (Swedish Union of Journalists)” and invited were Frilans Syd, organization for freelancers in southern Sweden, Swedish Pen as well as staff journalists.
24.05.2023
Businessman and publisher of Baranavichy newspaper Shag evacuated from Belarus
This was reported by Andrei Stryzhak, head of the BYSOL Foundation, in his Telegram channel.
22.05.2023
Belarusian Blogger Raman Pratasevich, Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison, Says He Was Pardoned
Raman Pratasevich, a former editor of an opposition Telegram channel who was handed a prison term earlier this month after the commercial flight he was on was forced to land in Minsk in 2021, told journalists on May 22 that he had received a pardon.
22.05.2023
Over 100 Nobel Laureates join PEN International in support of Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski
21 May: PEN International, the literary and free expression organisation, has released a letter signed by 103 Nobel Laureates, expressing solidarity with writer, human rights defender, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and PEN member Ales Bialiatski, and condemning the Belarusian authorities’ brutal, relentless, and systematic crackdown on independent voices. Today marks the International Day of Solidarity with Prisoners of Conscience in Belarus. The solidarity action was featured in the Guardian.
21.05.2023
Civil society groups reaffirm continued solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners
Today, marking the Day of the Political Prisoner in Belarus, the undersigned organisations reiterate our condemnation of the Lukashenko regime's ruthless crackdown on civil society and independent media. We continue to stand in solidarity with courageous Belarusians who persist in their fight for freedom. The international community will keep demanding the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
19.05.2023
MOST website and social media pages of its editor-in-chief declared “extremist formations”
MOST Media and its social media pages, as well as other projects and personal social media accounts of Hrodna journalist Ruslan Kulevich, have been declared “extremist formations” by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus.
19.05.2023
25 books confiscated from journalist Dzianis Ivashyn ordered destroyed
When journalist Dzianis Ivashyn was arrested on March 12, 2021, his home was searched by KGB agents. As a result, several dozen books were confiscated. Today it became known that the court ordered the destruction of 25 titles.
16.05.2023
May 21 is the Day of the Political prisoner in Belarus: show your solidarity! Updated with events schedule
Viasna human rights center has designated May 21 as a Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus. On this day two years ago, political prisoner Vitold Ashurak died in the Škloŭ penal colony No. 17. No criminal proceedings have been initiated following his death, while the situation with political prisoners has significantly deteriorated. Last year, the Day of Political Prisoners theme was the yellow tag used in colonies to mark inmates. It was Ashurak who first talked about it in his letter. This year human rights defenders propose to make the theme of the Day of Solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus letters and the right to correspondence, which the Belarusian authorities have deprived hundreds of political prisoners. Viasna calls on people to express solidarity with all political prisoners on May 21, draw the attention of the Belarusian and international community to their problems, and once again demand the release of all political prisoners from the authorities. The Belarusian Association of Journalists joins the events! The authorities are trying to destroy independent journalism in Belarus. Support the Solidarity Marathon!
11.05.2023
Support for Pavel Belavus's family
How much is needed? 15,000€ — The amount collected will go to pay for lawyers, as well as to buy the necessities of life and to cover household expenses for Pavel's family.