In 2021, 113 journalists were arrested in Belarus just for doing their job. 32 are still in detention. In the same year, 146 journalists’ homes and editorial offices were searched, 13 media outlets were officially labelled as extremist, and the only independent organisation representing journalists, BAJ, was dissolved by the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
With the support of IFJ and EFJ's affiliates and a range of other freedom of expression organisations, BAJ will continue and even expand its activities from abroad.
IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "Belarusian journalists face systematic harassment, arrests, searches, and jail sentences. Almost a third of the journalists arrested this year are still behind bars. The international community must speak out to defend the freedom of press."
“We once again call on the international community not to turn a blind eye to the atrocious repression taking place in Belarus,” said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez. “As we have been asking for almost 5 years, we call on the Council of Europe to include Belarus in the Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists, in order to give full visibility to the ongoing repression and to hold the perpetrators accountable. We must act now!”
Here is the list of journalists and media workers in jail in Belarus:
- Katsiaryna Andreyeva
- Daria Chultsova
- Ihar Losik
- Siarhei Hardzievich
- Ksenia Lutskina
- Andrei Aliaksandrau
- Dzianis Ivashyn
- Andrej Pachobut (Andrzej Poczobut)
- Maryna Zolatava, tut by
- Volha Loika, tut by
- Liudmila Chekina, tut by
- Alena Talkachova, tut by
- Anzhela Asad, tut by
- Iryna Rybalka, tut by
- Ala Lapatka, tut by
- Darya Danilava, RocketData, TAM.BY
- Maria Novik, tut by
- Aliaksandr Daineka, tut by
- Andrei Audzeyau, tut by
- Katsiaryna Tkachenka, Lawyer tut by — house arrest
- Iryna Kastsiuchenka, Ex-Lawyer tut by — house arrest
- Valerija Kastsiugova, editor of “Belarusian Yearbook”, analyst
- Aliaksandr Ivulin, editor of Tribuna.by
- Yahor Martsinovich, Nasha Niva
- Andrei Skurko, Nasha Niva
- Irina Lewshyna, director, editor-in-chief of BelaPAN
- Dzmitry Navazhylaw, ex-director of BelaPAN
- Genadz Mazheika, journalist of “Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus”
- Iryna Slaunikava
- Andrei Kuznechyk, freelancer RFE/RL
- Siarhei Satsuk, editor of Ej.by
- Aleh Hruzdzilovich, journalist RFE/RF