Belarus hands 4 independent journalists lengthy prison terms
2 years, 2 months ago

Belarus hands 4 independent journalists lengthy prison terms

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian court on Thursday sentenced four journalists at country’s largest independent news agency to lengthy prison terms on charges widely seen as politically motivated. Four reporters of the BelaPAN news agency were handed prison terms ranging from four to 14 years in prison, and the charges against them included treason and forming an extremist group, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. “Huge prison terms in the BelaPAN case were nothing less than revenge to the outlet’s staff for their honest work and position,” the Belarusian Association of Journalists said Thursday. “The BelaPAN case is politically motivated, journalists of the outlet absolutely lawfully fulfilled their duties and up until the very moment of their arrest remained an example of the high standard of Belarusian journalism,” the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.

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Belarusian authorities arrest 7 journalists who worked for an independent newspaper
1 week, 5 days ago

Belarusian authorities arrest 7 journalists who worked for an independent newspaper

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities have arrested seven journalists who worked for an independent regional news outlet, a media watchdog said Thursday, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech by the country’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said the seven — journalists who worked for Intex-Press online newspaper in the …

Belarus court jails journalist for four years for criticizing authoritarian president
Trending News
1 week, 6 days ago

Belarus court jails journalist for four years for criticizing authoritarian president

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian journalist has been sentenced to four years in prison for her critical reports chronicling a sweeping crackdown on dissent launched by the country’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Minsk City Court convicted Volha Radzivonava on Tuesday on charges of “insulting the president” and “discrediting Belarus” and sentenced her to four years in prison. “The authorities …

Belarus’ authoritarian ruler pardons 29 political prisoners amid claims of ongoing repression
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Belarus’ authoritarian ruler pardons 29 political prisoners amid claims of ongoing repression

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, pardoned 29 political prisoners Monday amid what human rights groups describe as renewed oppression in the country. The mass pardons come amid a new wave of repression as the authorities prepare to hold new presidential elections in January 2025, said Viasna spokesman Pavel Sapelka. “Repression in Belarus is still growing.” The Belarusian …

Belarus’ hardline president releases 31 political prisoners but crackdown persists
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Belarus’ hardline president releases 31 political prisoners but crackdown persists

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led a harsh crackdown on opposition, pardoned and released 31 political prisoners, his office announced Thursday. The announcement said the freed prisoners had been convicted of “crimes of an extremist nature,” a description widely used for opposition figures and people arrested in the mass protests that arose in 2020 after …

Financial Charges: A Weaponized Assault on Independent Media
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Financial Charges: A Weaponized Assault on Independent Media

The Hindu  

Governments are increasingly wielding economic and financial crime charges to silence independent journalism worldwide, according to a new joint report by the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). The report highlights how authorities systematically employ tax evasion, money laundering, and other financial charges to paralyze media operations and discredit journalists.

Belarusian authorities pressure pardoned political prisoners, rights groups say
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities pressure pardoned political prisoners, rights groups say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian human rights activists Monday accused the government of pressuring political prisoners who have been pardoned by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and forcing them to cooperate with authorities. Those pardoned were a small fraction of more than 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center. Viasna and other rights groups said Monday that …

Belarus’ authoritarian leader pardons 30 out of some 1,400 political prisoners
4 months, 1 week ago

Belarus’ authoritarian leader pardons 30 out of some 1,400 political prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 prisoners convicted for taking part in protests, the presidential office said Friday. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile, welcomed the move but vowed to keep fighting until each of nearly 1,400 political prisoners in the country is set free. The Viasna human rights group estimates that Belarus now has …

EU and US call for the release of Belarus’ political prisoners on the anniversary of mass protests
4 months, 2 weeks ago

EU and US call for the release of Belarus’ political prisoners on the anniversary of mass protests

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The European Union and the United States on Friday marked the fourth anniversary of massive protests in Belarus by calling for the release of all political prisoners and voicing support for the Belarusian people. In a statement marking the anniversary, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell emphasized that “the EU remains united in its support to the …

2 Belarusian journalists sentenced to prison in a closed-door trial, rights group says
4 months, 3 weeks ago

2 Belarusian journalists sentenced to prison in a closed-door trial, rights group says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Two Belarusian journalists working for news outlets that the government of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has declared extremist have been sentenced to prison, the country’s leading human rights group said Thursday. The severe repression began when huge protests arose after the disputed 2020 presidential election that gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The rights group Viasna …

Belarus’ authoritarian president pardons German man sentenced to death on terrorism charges
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarus’ authoritarian president pardons German man sentenced to death on terrorism charges

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian leader on Tuesday granted a pardon to a German citizen who had been sentenced to death on terrorism charges. Krieger’s lawyer Vladimir Gorbach, who took part in the meeting, told the Belarusian state TV that Lukashenko said he would consider Krieger’s request for pardon and announce his decision later. Pavel Sapelka of Belarus’ Viasna human …

Belarus frees head of banned party as Lukashenko slowly releases some political prisoners
5 months ago

Belarus frees head of banned party as Lukashenko slowly releases some political prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The head of a banned Belarusian opposition party who had been behind bars for two years was released on Monday as the authoritarian country frees a trickle of political prisoners, according to the respected human rights group Viasna. Lukashenko announced an amnesty in early July for some seriously ill political prisoners, and 19 have been released so …

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Human rights activists on Monday accused Belarusian authorities of setting unacceptable conditions for the release of political prisoners, including writing public statements admitting their guilt and repenting. There are currently 1,420 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Viasna’s Pavel Sapelka said that “dozens, not hundreds” of political prisoners were released …

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say

The Independent  

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Cancer-stricken Belarusian political prisoner is released after authoritarian president’s promise
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Cancer-stricken Belarusian political prisoner is released after authoritarian president’s promise

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent Belarusian opposition politician suffering from a severe form of cancer was released Wednesday from prison, his son-in-law said, three years after his arrest in the crackdown on dissent by the country’s authoritarian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko. Ryhor Kastusiou’s release came a day after President Lukashenko announced he would free seriously ill political who were jailed in …

UN calls on Belarus to investigate torture and death of politicial prisoners
6 months, 2 weeks ago

UN calls on Belarus to investigate torture and death of politicial prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — United Nations special representatives on human rights have called on Belarusian authorities to investigate the torture and deaths of political prisoners. The report noted that none of the deceased underwent an autopsy and said that the fact the prisoners died while in jail “creates a presumption of arbitrary deprivation of life by State authorities.” It called on …

Belarus starts proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarus starts proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities on Friday started proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts who work with the world’s biggest universities and think tanks, the latest in a yearslong crackdown on dissent in the country. In a statement, the analysts rejected the accusations against them as “absurd” and said they “don’t expect a fair trial.” …

Belarus authorities unleash another wave of raids and property seizures targeting over 200 activists
7 months ago

Belarus authorities unleash another wave of raids and property seizures targeting over 200 activists

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Authorities in Belarus on Tuesday carried out raids and property seizures targeting more than 200 opposition activists, the latest step in the unrelenting government crackdown against dissent, coinciding with the opposition’s “day of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners.” Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, began the clampdown in August 2020 in response to mass protests following his disputed …

Belarusian journalist goes on trial for covering protests, faces up to 6 years in prison
11 months, 1 week ago

Belarusian journalist goes on trial for covering protests, faces up to 6 years in prison

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian journalist went on trial Friday on charges linked to his professional work covering protests, the latest move in a relentless government crackdown on dissent. “Belarus is the most repressive country in Europe, where an attempt at free speech is punished by prison.” A total of 33 Belarusian journalists are currently in prison, either awaiting trial …

2 journalists are detained in Belarus as part of a crackdown on dissent
1 year ago

2 journalists are detained in Belarus as part of a crackdown on dissent

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Two journalists were detained in Belarus on Friday, a Belarusian journalist association reported, the latest step in a crackdown against dissent in recent years. Chief editor of the Ranak television channel, Yulia Dauletava, and correspondent Lyudmila Andenka were detained in the city of Svetlahorsk in southeastern Belarus and accused of contributing to extremist activities, the Belarusian Association …

Belarus journalist jailed for ‘facilitating extremism’ after collecting data for human rights group
1 year, 3 months ago

Belarus journalist jailed for ‘facilitating extremism’ after collecting data for human rights group

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus has sentenced a high-profile journalist to 3 1/2 years for “facilitating extremist activities” and “discrediting Belarus” after she provided data for a renowned human rights group, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said Thursday. Shchyrakova, 50, is the latest in a string of journalists jailed in Belarus after covering the large-scale political repression that …

Journalist for top Polish paper allegedly denied medication in Belarusian prison
1 year, 3 months ago

Journalist for top Polish paper allegedly denied medication in Belarusian prison

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A former correspondent for a top Polish newspaper has been denied life-saving heart medication in Belarusian prison, a representative of Belarus’ largest Polish community organization told reporters Tuesday. The country’s largest and most prominent rights group, Viasna, also reported on its website that Poczobut has been transferred to a one-man “punishment cell” at a prison in Navapolatsk, …

Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition
1 year, 4 months ago

Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent journalist in Belarus was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. On trial in the city of Grodno in western Belarus, Pavel Mazheika, 45, was found guilty of “complicity in extremist activity” for covering the activities of the political …

Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent
1 year, 5 months ago

Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Authorities in Belarus have arrested a prominent journalist who has written for the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the latest step in a yearslong crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. Belarus’ oldest and most prominent human rights group, Viasna, reported that Karnei has been placed in the Akrestina pretrial detention center, notorious for …

Belarusian journalist faces up to 6 years in prison for opposition reporting
1 year, 5 months ago

Belarusian journalist faces up to 6 years in prison for opposition reporting

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent journalist went on trial in Belarus Monday, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. The Belarusian authorities have labeled Belsat as “extremist.” Journalists and activists in Belarus have faced large-scale repression since the August 2020 vote that handed a sixth term to President Alexander Lukashenko. Mazheika …

Belarus hands lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of 2020 protests
1 year, 6 months ago

Belarus hands lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of 2020 protests

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Wednesday handed lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of mass anti-government protests that shook the country in 2020, the latest step in a brutal years-long effort to stifle all and any dissent. According to the authorities, the protesters formed a resistance movement, attacked law enforcement officers, carried out acts of sabotage and …

Belarusian dissident who was pulled off forced-down plane says he has been pardoned
1 year, 7 months ago

Belarusian dissident who was pulled off forced-down plane says he has been pardoned

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The Belarusian state news agency on Monday reported that a dissident journalist who was pulled off a flight that was forced to land in the country and was later sentenced to eight years in prison says he has received a presidential pardon. He ran a Telegram messaging app channel that was widely used by participants in mass …

10-year sentence asked for journalist forced down in Belarus
1 year, 8 months ago

10-year sentence asked for journalist forced down in Belarus

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Prosecutors requested a 10-year prison sentence Friday for a dissident Belarusian journalist who was arrested after a warplane forced down a commercial airliner he was taking to Lithuania. Pratasevich ran a Telegram messaging app channel that was widely used by participants in mass protests against the disputed August 2020 election that gave authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko …

Belarusian opposition leader handed 15-year prison term
1 year, 9 months ago

Belarusian opposition leader handed 15-year prison term

Al Jazeera  

Minsk court convicts Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in absentia on charges of treason and conspiracy to seize power. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has been handed a 15-year prison term after being convicted in absentia of treason and conspiracy to seize power, a verdict she says is punishment for her efforts to promote democracy. The authorities put Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition’s de …

Belarus hands 8-year term to journalist for top Polish paper
1 year, 10 months ago

Belarus hands 8-year term to journalist for top Polish paper

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian court on Wednesday sentenced a journalist and prominent member of the country’s sizable Polish minority to eight years in prison, amid an ongoing crackdown on critics of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. Andrzej Poczobut, 49, was found guilty of harming Belarus’ national security and “inciting discord” in a closed trial held in the western city …

Belarus sends one more independent journalist to prison
2 years, 1 month ago

Belarus sends one more independent journalist to prison

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Thursday sentenced yet another independent journalist to three years in prison, a second prison sentence handed to a journalist in the European county this week in a sweeping, years-long crackdown on independent media. Liubianchuk had worked with a number of independent media, including the Poland-based Belsat TV channel, which was outlawed as …

Belarus hands investigative reporter 8-year prison sentence
2 years, 1 month ago

Belarus hands investigative reporter 8-year prison sentence

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Wednesday sentenced a prominent investigative journalist to eight years in prison, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on independent media by the Belarusian authorities. The Belarusian authorities blocked Yezhednevnik, which ran high-profile investigative reports alleging corruption in the healthcare system, on the day of the journalist’s arrest. In a written statement …

Belarus activist gets 25-year sentence for opposing regime
2 years, 2 months ago

Belarus activist gets 25-year sentence for opposing regime

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A leading Belarusian political activist was handed a 25-year prison sentence on Monday for opposing President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on dissent in the ex-Soviet nation. Investigators accused Autukhovich and others who faced trial alongside him in the western city of Grodno of setting alight a car belonging to a police …

Belarusian authorities raid top independent newspaper
3 years, 2 months ago

Belarusian authorities raid top independent newspaper

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Authorities in Belarus on Wednesday raided the offices of the country’s top independent newspaper and took two of its journalists for questioning. Belarusian authorities searched the offices of the Novy Chas newspaper in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, and confiscated its computers and other office equipment. They include Hienadz Mazheyka, a Belarusian journalist for the popular Russian daily …

Belarus arrests 3 journalists in media crackdown
3 years, 5 months ago

Belarus arrests 3 journalists in media crackdown

Al Jazeera  

Authorities in Belarus raided the offices of an independent newspaper and arrested three of its journalists on Monday as part of a relentless crackdown on media outlets and civil society activists. “The authorities have turned life into hell for independent journalists in Belarus with a conveyor belt of searches and arrests,” BAJ head Andrei Bastunets said. “They forced me to …

Belarus scales up crackdown on independent media
3 years, 5 months ago

Belarus scales up crackdown on independent media

Associated Press  

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Belarusian authorities have raided the offices of several media outlets and the homes of scores of journalists under a multi-pronged crackdown on dissent and free speech in the ex-Soviet nation, a media watchdog said Friday. The Belarusian Association of Journalists, or BAJ, said the country’s law enforcement agencies have conducted nearly 30 searches at media outlets and …

New Belarusian law threatens protesters with years in prison
3 years, 6 months ago

New Belarusian law threatens protesters with years in prison

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — The authoritarian president of Belarus signed a law Tuesday that allows prison sentences of up to three years for participating in an unsanctioned demonstration, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on protests against his rule after nearly 27 years in power. The bill President Alexander Lukashenko signed permits judges to sentence people convicted of joining at …

2 Belarusian journalists sent to prison for covering protest
3 years, 10 months ago

2 Belarusian journalists sent to prison for covering protest

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Two journalists in Belarus were convicted Thursday of violating public order and sentenced to two years in prison after they covered a protest against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The U.S. Embassy condemned “the political convictions and egregious prison sentences” for the journalists and urged authorities in Belarus “to cease the persecution and prosecution of journalists and media …

Belarus detains journalists reporting on protests against President Alexander Lukashenko
4 years, 3 months ago

Belarus detains journalists reporting on protests against President Alexander Lukashenko

ABC  

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the mass detention of more than 50 journalists in Belarus. Key points: Belarusian authorities had already blocked news media websites Protests over the election began on August 10 Some of the detained journalists are employed by the UK's publicly owned BBC A witness has described seeing Belarusian police detain scores of reporters on …

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