Voices of the Freed: Belsat Journalists Speak After Release

September 12, 2025 – Belarus – 

Following their release from Belarusian prisons, several journalists linked to Belsat TV have spoken out, sharing the toll of incarceration and the ongoing challenges of repression, while expressing relief at regaining freedom. These individuals were among the group of 52 political prisoners pardoned and released by President Alexander Lukashenko on September 11, 2025.

Among the freed are Iryna Slaunikava, convicted for alleged “extremism,” who served time in a penal colony, and Larysa Shchyrakova, also convicted under extremism-related charges. Others include Pavel Mazheika, Yauhen Merkis, Alena Tsimashchuk, Vyacheslau Lazarau, Pavel Padabed, and Alyaksandr Mantsevich, all of whom faced sentences for alleged collaboration with Belsat or for reporting activities deemed hostile by Belarusian authorities.

In interviews, the journalists described harsh conditions during their imprisonment, including isolation, legal uncertainty, and psychological pressure. While details of individual treatment vary, a common theme is the disruptive impact on their professional work and personal lives. Additionally, many of them still carry the lasting effects of being labeled “extremists” by the state, which complicates their prospects of returning safely to journalism or everyday life.

However, their release has brought both hope and relief. They spoke of reuniting with family, of a renewed sense of purpose, and of the importance of international pressure and solidarity in securing freedom for political prisoners. Still, they warn that many of their colleagues remain detained, and that press freedom in Belarus continues to be severely constrained.

Activist groups, journalism associations, and rights organizations are calling for more than just symbolic releases — for legal reforms, for the dropping of extremist labels, and for safe conditions that allow journalists to work without fear of arrest. Meanwhile, humanitarian support is being mobilized: the BYSOL solidarity fund has announced financial assistance for the released prisoners, recognizing both urgent needs and lthe ong road ahead.

Reference – 

https://en.belsat.eu/88886541/freed-belsat-journalists-speak-out