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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has concluded its “Postcards for Maryna” action by delivering hundreds of postcards, letters, and online messages in support of jailed Belarusian editor Maryna Zolatava to Belarusian embassies in seven cities around the world to mark Zolatava’s birthday. Joined by Zolatava’s family and prominent supporters, RSF has sent a clear signal to the Belarusian authorities that the international community is watching Zolatava’s case and demands the release of all 36 jailed media workers in the country.

Responding to the Belarusian Association of Journalists’ call to action, participants of the Astrozhskis Belarusian-Ukrainian Expert Forum media panel concluded the event by demonstrating solidarity with the imprisoned media workers.

In his final words, Mantsevich spoke of his well-known ancestors, his life-long dedication to the newspaper, and his civic duties. “I hear my ancestors’ voices, I have never betrayed my homeland. I love my fellow citizens and the country of Belarus. While imprisoned, I was unable to erect a monument on my father’s grave before the anniversary of his death.

Police arrested Vital Paliakou, director of the ABW.BY media outlet that covers news on the car industry. He is accused of participating in protests.

Marek Zaniewski, Deputy Chairman of the Union of Poles of Belarus, reported this during a regular solidarity event in Bialystok that the Union of Poles of Belarus and the Podlasie branch of Wspólnota Polska organize monthly.

Unverified information, unsourced videos and images from social networks: the war between Hamas and Israel is also a war of communication. The IFJ, the world's leading professional organisation of journalists, reiterates that the professional principles of journalists must be absolutely respected. The duty is to provide information in the public interest.

The Belarus Interior Ministry added Pavel Padabed, a freelance videographer who was convicted of extremism, to the list of people involved in such activities.

On 17 October, the Belarusian human rights community declared him a political prisoner. Sports blogger and journalist Dzmitry Selviastruk has been in jail since May.

Join Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) for a virtual discussion on the isolation and ill-treatment of political prisoners in Belarus. Speakers include RFE/RL journalist Aleh Hruzdzilovich who was unjustly imprisoned in Belarus from December 2021 to September 2022.

Today, October 17, the Supreme Court of Belarus reviewed the appeals of Hrodna journalist Pavel Mazheika and attorney Yulia Yurhilevich, who were sentenced to prison for “promoting extremist activity”. The Hrodna Regional Court sentenced them both to 6 years of imprisonment on 26 July of this year. The verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court.

The reason for detaining former freelance journalist and democratic activist Andrei Tolchyn in Homel has been revealed. He has been accused of violating Part 1 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code, which relates to encouraging actions that harm the national security of Belarus.

Israel encountered multiple media challenges after the ruthless assault by Hamas militants. On the one hand, journalists are trying to figure out the reason behind the intelligence and special services breakdown and the government’s accountability. On the other hand, they dispel fakes and reconstruct the chronology of terrible events bit by bit. BAJ interviewed Anat Saragusti from the Israeli Union of Journalists, who was a correspondent in the Gaza Strip for many years. We discussed how the media responds to public demands and their reactions.

Although the Belarusian government tries to suppress information about political prisoners, the attempts are unsuccessful. Andrei Aliaksandrau has not been forgotten despite being isolated from the external world. On the thousandth day of the media manager's imprisonment, Index on Censorship launched an inspiring solidarity campaign.

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.

Homel Viasna human rights activists report that he was transferred to Homel pre-trial detention center №3.