Four Years On, Belarusian Press Faces Persistent Repression as 37 Journalists Remain Jailed

August 09, 2024 – Belarus – 

Marking four years since Belarus’s widely discredited presidential election, the International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ), along with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), called for the immediate release of 37 journalists currently imprisoned under President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.

According to BAJ, the 37 jailed media professionals—27 men and 10 women—have been detained solely for their journalistic work. Many face charges related to “extremism,” “inciting hatred,” or “threats to national security,” often tied directly to their reporting on protests, political dissent, or human rights abuses. Notable cases include Marina Zolotova and Lyudmila Chekina, both sentenced to 12 years in prison, and Belsat TV journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva, serving an eight-year sentence for live-streaming peaceful demonstrations.

The IFJ and EFJ denounced these prosecutions as politically motivated and emblematic of Belarus’s deepening crackdown on press freedom. Trials have frequently lacked due process, with several journalists convicted in absentia or subjected to closed court proceedings. The organizations emphasized that such actions are part of a systemic effort to silence dissent, erase independent media, and control public discourse.

Beyond those imprisoned within Belarus, the crackdown extends to exiled journalists. Authorities have targeted family members, raided homes, and initiated criminal proceedings against reporters living abroad, such as BAJ deputy chairperson Barys Haretski. These tactics aim to intimidate and suppress journalism even beyond Belarusian borders.

BAJ Chair Andrei Bastunets emphasized the personal toll, saying many of those detained are close colleagues and friends, with families suffering long-term separation and fear. “Freedom for our journalists means freedom for our society,” he said.

International pressure continues to mount. The EU, UK, US, and Canada have all condemned Belarus’s actions, reiterating calls for the release of political prisoners, including journalists. The IFJ, EFJ, and BAJ insist that Lukashenko’s government must be held accountable and that the international community must not normalize the repression of the free press.

The continued imprisonment of journalists four years after the 2020 election serves as a stark reminder of the Lukashenko regime’s enduring war on independent media.

Reference –

Belarus: IFJ and EFJ demand the release of jailed journalists on the 4th anniversary of the fraudule… – IFJ