Archive
05.10.2023
"Independent media is experiencing a business model collapse, and society is subjecting itself to self-censorship." Highlights from the Freedom House report
Internet freedom in Belarus deteriorated further during the coverage period. The government intensified its suppression of online critical voices, blocking of independent media outlets and information sources, and use of legislation to criminalize online materials produced by what it deemed to be “extremist” or “terrorist” groups. Although virtually all nonstate media outlets are now operating from exile, they continue to disseminate content via social media and messaging applications.
05.10.2023
Andrei Tolchyn moved to pre-trial detention
Homel Viasna human rights activists report that he was transferred to Homel pre-trial detention center №3.
03.10.2023
Larysa Shchyrakova transferred to Homel women’s correctional facility
The transfer did not take a long time, as she was previously held at Homel pre-trial detention center.
27.09.2023
Homel videographer Andrei Tolchyn detained for 72 hours
This is reported by the Homel chapter of Viasna.
26.09.2023
Australian TV journalist joins Solidarity Marathon in support of Andrzej Poczobut
The marathon in solidarity with imprisoned journalists continues. This time the campaign initiated by BAJ was supported by Australian journalist Steve Cannаnе, who now lives in London. He heads the European bureau of the ABC television network.
25.09.2023
Vyachaslau Lazarau has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison, while his wife, Tatsiana Pytsko, has received a three-year sentence
Vyachaslau Lazarau, a freelance videographer from Vitsebsk, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison, while his wife, Tatsiana Pytsko, has received a three-year sentence.
21.09.2023
Belarusian propagandist attempts to infiltrate democratic milieux in Vilnius and Warsaw
Herman Napolski regularly attends press conferences and official events and is familiar to Belarusian journalists.
19.09.2023
Formerly imprisoned journalist Siarhei Hardzievich detained at border crossing
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists' source, Siarhei Hardzievich was detained on September 14 at the Brest border checkpoint as he was returning to Belarus from Poland.
15.09.2023
Rehijanalnaja Hazeta chief editor to be tried on September 27
Aliaksandr Mantsevich, Rehijanalnaja Hazeta’s chief editor, will be tried in Maladzechna. Judge Aliaksei Irshyn will preside over the case, reports the Viasna Human Rights Center. Mantsevich was arrested on March 15 after his house in Vileika was searched and has been in custody ever since. The journalist is charged with discrediting the state.
13.09.2023
Physical threats, disinformation, censorship. Six modern challenges for the media
Belarusian independent journalism has been in a troubled zone in recent years. Despite the difficulties, media professionals feel that things have become more stable, even with the profession’s repression and criminalization. During the roundtable discussion arranged by BAJ and the Mixer journalist organization (Poland), evaluations were made.