Maiki Sherman Wins Top Journalism Award Following Weeks of Public Scrutiny
May 22, 2026
Mexican Journalist María Teresa Montaño Targeted in Suspected Surveillance and Malware Attacks
May 22, 2026
May 22, 2026 – Belarus –
Belarusian journalist and political prisoner Ihar Karnei has become dangerously ill while imprisoned, according to relatives and human rights advocates who are urging authorities to release him immediately for medical treatment. The case has renewed international concern over the treatment of detained journalists and dissidents under the government of President Alexander Lukashenko.
Karnei, a former journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was arrested in 2023 during Belarus’ continuing crackdown on independent media, opposition activists, and civil society organizations. Authorities accused him of participating in what the government classified as extremist activity, charges widely criticized by rights groups as politically motivated.
According to family members, Karnei’s health sharply deteriorated while serving his sentence in a penal colony. Relatives said he had become severely weakened and was suffering from serious medical complications, raising fears for his life. Supporters and rights advocates argued that prison conditions and inadequate medical care contributed to his worsening condition.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused Belarusian authorities of using harsh detention conditions, isolation, and restricted medical access against political prisoners. International organizations say hundreds of journalists, activists, and opposition figures remain imprisoned following the mass protests that erupted after Belarus’s disputed 2020 presidential election, which handed Lukashenko another term in power.
The crackdown intensified after the protests, with authorities shutting down independent newsrooms, revoking media licenses, and designating many outlets as extremist organizations. Journalists covering demonstrations or reporting critically on the government were arrested, beaten, or forced into exile. Belarus has since become one of the most restrictive environments for press freedom in Europe.
Karnei’s relatives and supporters are now appealing for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds, warning that his condition could become fatal if treatment is delayed further. Rights advocates have also called on international institutions and foreign governments to increase pressure on Belarus over the treatment of political prisoners and jailed journalists.
The case has sparked renewed international debate over democratic repression in Belarus and the continued imprisonment of independent journalists. Online discussions and human rights organizations have increasingly warned that deteriorating prison conditions and lack of medical access place many detainees at serious risk as the government continues its suppression of dissent and independent reporting.
Reference –
