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Belsat reporter Stas Ivashkevich, photographer Henadz Veratsinski, and Onliner editor Mikalai Hradziushka were detained in Minsk on December 13.

In light of recent findings on Belarus by both the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, organisations express concern about ongoing abuses carried out by agents and supporters of the government of President Alexander Lukashenko and call for immediate investigations and redress.

After nearly 450 press freedom violations registered in Belarus in the past four months, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is recommending 15 ways to end what is an unprecedented crackdown on the media in a European country.

Investigative Committee has summoned all 20 employees of Nasha Niva for questioning,   NN chief editor Yahor Martsinovich posted on his Facebook page. Martsinovich is a suspect under Article 188 of the Criminal Code (defamation).

On Sunday, November 29, police detained journalists in Minsk and Brest during the coverage and after the protests.

Six journalists are targeted by criminal investigation under Article 342 part 1 of the Criminal Code "organizing and preparing activities that seriously breach public order". They face punishment from a fine to three years of imprisonment. Another three journalists are suspects in other criminal cases. This is unprecedented pressure on journalists.

Belsat camerawoman Daria Chultsova was not released after 7 days of arrest. On November 15, she worked with another Belsat journalist, Katsyaryna Andreeva, streaming from "Square of Changes". They were detained and judged together on the same day. Both were given 7 days of arrest.

The Prosecutor General's office announced the initiation of a criminal case due to "disclosure of medical secrets" and "providing false information" on the death of Raman Bandarenka. Its press service reported, "the suspects have been detained." Security forces came for TUT.BY journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich, who wrote about Raman Bandarenka.

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BAJ receives Canada-UK Media Freedom Award  This was announced during the Global Conference for Media Freedom 2020. In his remarks, Andrei Bastunets, chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, stressed that the Award reflects the high opinion of the work of Belarusian journalists who are now working in extremely difficult conditions. During the ceremony, Dominic Raab, First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK, pointed out that the Award is a fitting tribute to courage, sacrifice and determination of Belarusian journalists. Below are BAJ acceptance remarks during the Global Conference for Media Freedom 2020.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the awarding of the First Canada-UK Media Freedom Award to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). BAJ was nominated for the award by the EFJ and International Media Support (IMS).

On November 15, the people of Belarus held protests and actions in memory of Raman Bandarenka, killed by unknown people in plain clothes. People in Minsk, regional centers and small towns took to the streets. In Minsk, the police did not allow people to gather on the central streets. Thousands of people came to the Square of Change (the popular name of the neighborhood, whose residents actively participate in the protests) in Minsk, where Raman Bandarenka had been killed. The drivers supported the protesters by honking their car horns. In the evening, the police surrounded the block and attacked the protesters using special weapons, many were taken away in police trucks. People were grabbed and beaten even in the nearby store. Police detained journalists covering teh protests in Minsk, Vitebsk, Hrodna and Pinsk. We know of 23 detentions of journalists.