Palestinian Journalist Arrested at Al-Aqsa Amid Rising Press Freedom Concerns
February 27, 2026
French Towns Rally for Release of Imprisoned French Journalist in Algeria
February 27, 2026
February 27, 2026 – Belarus –
A Belarusian court has handed lengthy prison terms to two independent journalists in what rights groups say is part of an ongoing crackdown on dissent and media freedom under President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. Uladzimir Yanukevich, 65, founder and editor of Intex-Press and BAR24, received a 14-year sentence, while his colleague Andrei Pakalenka, 44, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after proceedings held behind closed doors, according to reports from media freedom advocates monitoring the case.
The convictions — on charges of high treason — mark the latest escalation in Belarus’s persistent suppression of independent journalism, a pattern that has continued for years since the disputed 2020 presidential election, widely criticised as rigged. Authorities have systematically used broad legal tools such as “treason” and “extremism” laws to silence critical voices, while independent outlets have been shuttered or labelled extremist.
Yanukevich and Pakalenka were among a group of seven Intex-Press journalists arrested in December 2024 after raids on newsroom offices and homes. Four of their colleagues were earlier convicted of related charges and subjected to controlled labour sentences. Details of the treason accusations remain vague, and Belarusian state media have described alleged links by the journalists to foreign embassies — claims that critics say are politically motivated and lack transparent evidence.
Human rights and press freedom organisations, including the Belarusian Association of Journalists, have condemned the sentences as “horrific” and illustrative of a broader climate of repression in which media practitioners are treated as threats rather than watchdogs. The association’s head noted that the authorities have shown little sign of ending repressive actions against journalists even as the crackdown enters its sixth year.
The sentencing underscores the perilous environment for independent media in Belarus, where dozens of journalists remain behind bars and organisations have been banned or forced into exile. Observers have documented widespread use of criminal cases to intimidate media workers, with accusations ranging from extremist involvement to state treason that carry long prison terms and significant social stigma.
Critics argue that Belarus’s actions violate international norms on freedom of expression and the press, and they have renewed calls for global pressure and accountability measures. Exiled opposition figures and rights advocates stress that journalism should not be criminalised and that the continued imprisonment of independent journalists reflects a broader erosion of civil liberties in the country.
Reference –
