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The International Press Institute (IPI) and its global network today denounce the decision by authorities in Belarus to designate Zerkalo, the country’s most popular independent news site, as an “extremist formation”.

The website, social media pages and logo of the Belarusian Association of Journalists have been included in the national list of extremist content. It is noteworthy that the name of the public organization was misspelled in the decision.

The arrested employees of the Ranak TV channel have been charged with administrative offenses. They were accused of broadcasting “extremist” content. The court sentenced the arrested men to seven days of administrative detention, while the women were fined, Mediazona Belarus reported, citing the Homel chapter of the Viasna Human Rights Center.

The psychological problems of Belarusian political emigrants, including journalists, have become the center of attention of human rights activists. Many are still going through traumatic experiences, struggling with depression, separation from loved ones.

The woman was arrested on June 6 and is currently in custody. Tatsiana and Viachaslau’s daughter, who is just over a year old, has been sent to a children’s hospital as there is no family or guardian nearby.

MINSK -- Authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka has pardoned Sofia Sapega, a Russian citizen who was serving a six-year prison term in Belarus on charges related to civil disturbances that followed a disputed 2020 presidential election.

Larysa Shchyrakova’s mother was 80 years old. She had a severe form of COVID-19 last year and suffered many complications. In her last months she could not move by herself and was bedridden. Larysa’s father, 88, took care of her, RFE/RL Belarus reported.

The event will be held in-person and online 15th June. The simultaneous interpretation from English to Russian will be available for those joining online.

At the congress of the Danish Helsinki Committee, influential human rights activists voiced their support for media workers who remain behind bars in Belarus.

January - April. PDF

Two years ago, journalist and documentarian Mikhail Arshynski received an award for a film about the 2020 political campaign at the Hinzpeter Awards Documentary Film Festival in South Korea. And now he has been invited back to the country that until recently was a brutal autocracy and very much resembled modern Belarus. Our colleague shared with BAJ his impressions of Asian democracy, his vision of the situation in our region, and the role of the media.

The Council of the Union of Journalists expressed support and solidarity with the Belarusian colleagues who are now behind bars.

In response to a Belarusian court sentencing journalist Yauhen Merkis to four years in prison on Tuesday, May 30, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the statement.

On May 30, the Homel Regional Court announced its verdict for journalist, historian, and local history expert Yauhen Merkis who received 4 years of imprisonment in a enhanced regime  colony. Judge Aliaksei Khlyshchankou found Merkis guilty under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus ("Assistance to extremist activity"), as well as under Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code ("Participation in extremist formation").