Filming In Belarus: What's The Legal Status?

Belarus has been described as Europe's last dictatorship, with freedom of the press remaining extremely restricted. While censorship is prohibited by the country's constitution, it is enforced by a number of laws. These include a law that makes insulting the president punishable by up to five years in prison, and another that makes criticising Belarus abroad punishable by up to two years in prison.

Journalists are routinely harassed and detained for reporting on unauthorised demonstrations or working with unregistered media outlets.

In 2018, the government blocked more critical webpages and content, including two opposition news outlets. New restrictive amendments to the Law on Mass Media further solidified the government's control over the internet and will impact online media, website blocking, and intermediary liability.

It is illegal to produce media content in Belarus without being registered with the government. However, it is not illegal to film in Belarus in public without permission. If you shoot government buildings, you can be asked for an accreditation.

It is illegal to insult the president in Belarus

In Belarus, insulting the president is punishable by up to five years in prison. This law is part of a series of restrictive measures that curb freedom of expression and the press.

Freedom of the Press

Freedom of the press in Belarus is extremely restricted. State-owned media are subordinated to the president, and harassment and censorship of independent media are routine. Journalists are routinely harassed and detained for reporting on unauthorized demonstrations or working with unregistered media outlets.

Attacks on Journalists

Journalists have been beaten, kidnapped, or threatened by plainclothes state agents. These assaults are rarely prosecuted, giving the perception that they are carried out with impunity.

Censorship

Censorship in Belarus is prohibited by the country's constitution, yet it is enforced by a number of laws. In addition to the law against insulting the president, another law makes criticizing Belarus abroad punishable by up to two years in prison.

Recent Cases

In 2024, a court in Belarus sentenced a reporter for the now-closed local edition of one of Russia’s most popular newspapers to three years in prison for insulting the country’s authoritarian leader. The article in question angered President Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly suppressed opposition and criticism.

International Response

The Belarusian Association of Journalists has stated that there are 36 journalists who are either imprisoned or awaiting trial. The organization's head, Andrei Bastunets, has said that "the situation with free speech in Belarus is the worst in Europe".

Criticising Belarus abroad can lead to imprisonment

In Belarus, criticising the country to a foreign audience can result in a prison sentence of up to two years. This law is one of several that severely restrict freedom of expression in the country, alongside legislation that makes insulting the president punishable by up to five years in prison.

The justice system in Belarus is used to suppress dissent, with widespread torture and ill-treatment. Human rights defenders are regularly prevented from carrying out their work, including through arbitrary detention.

Journalists are routinely targeted for reporting on unauthorised demonstrations, working with unregistered media outlets, or covering important national issues and events. Freelancers are often fined for reporting without official accreditation, and independent media outlets are subjected to systematic political intimidation.

In recent years, the Belarusian government has blocked more websites, including opposition news sources and other political sites. Amendments to the country's media laws have further solidified the government's control over the internet and will impact online media, website blocking, and intermediary liability.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported that 101 journalists were detained in 2017, a number not seen since 2011. This repression continued into 2018, with at least 18 journalists arbitrarily detained in August of that year.

The government also employs direct and indirect economic pressure to limit financial support for independent online media outlets, making it nearly impossible for these sites to be profitable. Foreign donor support for Belarusian civil society organisations, including independent online outlets, has declined in recent years.

Despite the challenging media environment, Belarus continues to have a diverse and vibrant online presence, with the majority of the 50 most popular news and information websites being either independent or opposition-run. During the reporting period, Belarusians consumed more news from independent online sources, as their influence grew after covering spring 2017 protests that were largely ignored by state media.

Independent media outlets are subjected to routine harassment and censorship

Independent media outlets in Belarus are subjected to routine harassment and censorship. The country's constitution prohibits censorship, yet it is enforced by several laws. For instance, insulting the president can lead to up to five years in prison, and criticising Belarus abroad can result in up to two years of imprisonment.

The Belarusian government routinely harasses and censors independent media outlets. Journalists are intimidated and detained for reporting on unauthorised demonstrations or working with unregistered outlets. They are also targeted for reporting on the country's deteriorating economy and human rights abuses.

The Ministry of Information of Belarus, established in 2001, serves as the country's media regulator. Licensing and registration procedures are opaque and politicised. Since 2009, all media outlets, including websites, must register or face blockage. Independent publications have been forced to use foreign-based internet domains, and outlets that "threaten the state's interests" can be denied accreditation and shut down.

The Belarusian government has blocked numerous independent news sources and political sites. In 2018, the government blocked at least 35 websites and 12 social media groups from January to May, and over 100 sites in 2017. The government has also restricted access to two opposition news sources: Belarus Partisan and Charter 97.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported that in 2017, 101 journalists, many working for online outlets, were detained—a number not seen since 2011. This repression continued into 2018, with the arbitrary detention of at least 18 journalists in August of that year.

The Belarusian government also employs direct and indirect economic pressure to limit financial support for independent online media outlets, making it nearly impossible for these sites to be profitable. Foreign donor support for Belarusian civil society organisations, including independent online outlets, has declined in recent years.

Despite the challenging media environment, Belarus continues to have a diverse and vibrant online presence. The majority of the 50 most popular news and information websites are either independent or opposition-run. During the reporting period, Belarusians consumed more news from independent online sources, as their influence grew after covering the spring 2017 protests, which state media largely ignored.

Foreign media is subjected to systematic political intimidation

Foreign media in Belarus are subjected to systematic political intimidation by the government. This includes harassment, censorship, arbitrary detention, arrests, and violence.

The Belarusian government has a history of intimidating foreign media outlets and journalists, especially those reporting on the country's deteriorating economy and human rights abuses. Foreign journalists are often denied accreditation and are sometimes turned back at the border or required to obtain separate accreditation to cover non-sport-related issues.

The Belarusian government has also been known to confiscate equipment and detain journalists for reporting on unauthorized demonstrations or working with unregistered media outlets. In some cases, journalists have been killed under suspicious circumstances.

The government's intimidation tactics have led to widespread self-censorship among foreign media outlets, with many practicing a degree of self-censorship out of fear of regulatory prosecution.

In addition to direct intimidation, the Belarusian government also employs economic barriers to control the media landscape. Foreign media outlets often face restrictions on distribution and advertising, making it difficult for them to reach their audience and generate revenue.

The Belarusian government's systematic political intimidation of foreign media has resulted in a lack of press freedom in the country, with Belarus consistently ranking low on press freedom indices.

Filming government buildings may require an accreditation

Filming government buildings in Belarus

While it is not illegal to film in public in Belarus, it is important to note that the country has highly restrictive media laws. Belarus has been described as Europe's "last dictatorship", and censorship, although prohibited by the country's constitution, is enforced by a number of laws.

Journalists are routinely harassed and detained for reporting on unauthorised demonstrations or working with unregistered media outlets. They have also been fined for working with foreign media without official state accreditation.

Therefore, if you are filming in Belarus, particularly government buildings, it is important to be aware of the country's media laws and regulations to avoid any potential issues.

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