A Day In The Life Of Belarusian Journalists

Journalists in Belarus face a multitude of challenges and risks in carrying out their work. The country's mass media is monopolized by the government, which owns all TV channels and most radio and print media. The media landscape is heavily controlled and regulated by the state, with the Law on Mass Media being amended multiple times to restrict independent journalism and enable the government to shut down media outlets without court decisions. The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech, but in practice, this is contradicted by repressive laws, arbitrary detention, arrests, and harassment of journalists.

Freelance journalists face particular difficulties, including administrative liabilities for working with foreign media without accreditation and the constant risk of fines, imprisonment, and censorship. The Belarusian Association of Journalists has been a prominent voice in advocating for the rights and safety of journalists, but even they have faced pressure and obstruction from the authorities, including being designated as an 'extremist formation' in 2023.

The situation for journalists in Belarus has been described as one of the most repressive in Europe, with international organizations and journalists worldwide expressing support for their colleagues and calling for the protection of media freedom and independence in the country.

Journalists face harassment, threats, censorship, jail time, and even murder

Journalism in Belarus is a dangerous profession. Journalists face harassment, threats, censorship, jail time, and even murder. The country has one of the most repressive media climates in the world, with the government monopolizing the media and owning all TV channels and most radio and print media. Broadcasting is mostly in Russian, and Russian media is widely present.

The situation for journalists in Belarus has been worsening, with the authorities attempting to exert control over web and book publishing. Freelance journalists face administrative liabilities for cooperating with foreign media without accreditation, and many have been fined or are pending trial. The Belarusian Association of Journalists has reported more than 60 cases of criminal prosecution of journalists and bloggers in a single year.

The Law on Mass Media has been amended repeatedly, making it extremely difficult for independent journalists to operate. These amendments have given the government greater power to shut down websites and block online media without judicial decisions. This has made it nearly impossible for journalists to do their jobs, as they risk fines, detention, and even prison sentences for doing their work.

The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech and prohibits censorship and monopolization of mass media. However, in practice, any criticism of President Lukashenko and his government is considered a criminal offense. The country is in a state of 'legal default', and independent media is oppressed by politicized court rulings.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists has called on authorities to respect the rights of journalists and to ensure their safety. They have also provided legal support to journalists facing prosecution. Despite these efforts, journalism in Belarus remains a risky and challenging profession, with many journalists choosing to leave the country or switch to other careers.

Belarus ranks 157th in the World Press Freedom Index

Belarus ranks 157th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, making it one of the most oppressive media climates in the world. The country's restrictive media landscape is characterised by the government's monopoly over the media, with all TV channels, most radio stations, and print media being state-owned. The Law on Mass Media, coupled with anti-extremism legislation, has been repeatedly amended to restrict independent journalism and publications. European, Ukrainian, and other foreign news websites have been blocked, and foreign journalists' accreditations have been cancelled.

The Belarusian media environment has been described as one of the most repressive in Europe, with frequent arbitrary detentions, arrests, and harassment of journalists. The main sources of danger for media professionals are the authorities, the police, and the courts. Journalists face the risk of imprisonment on trumped-up charges, with prison sentences reaching up to 14 or even 15 years. The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported more than 60 cases of criminal prosecution of journalists and bloggers in 2021, and as of 2023, 33 journalists were imprisoned.

The situation has deteriorated since the controversial 2020 presidential election, which sparked mass protests and a subsequent crackdown on independent media. The government's actions have effectively pushed all independent media out of the country, with websites blocked or declared "extremist". This makes following or sharing information from these sources punishable by law. Foreign-owned media outlets face significant barriers to receiving accreditation from the Belarusian authorities, further limiting the flow of information in and out of the country.

The Belarusian government's control over the media extends to the internet as well. Major independent news outlets have been shut down, and individual bans on social media platforms are common. Websites critical of the government are only accessible via VPNs and TOR connections. The government's dominance in the information sphere has resulted in self-censorship in private media outlets, and the quality of reporting has suffered due to the public's fear of speaking on the record.

The government monopolises the media and owns all TV channels

Journalism in Belarus is a dangerous profession. The government monopolises the media and owns all TV channels, and the country has been described as having one of the most repressive media climates in the world. The Belarusian Association of Journalists has reported more than 60 cases of criminal prosecution of journalists and bloggers.

The government's monopoly on the media means that state-run media praises President Alexander Lukashenko and vilifies the opposition. Self-censorship is pervasive in private outlets, and any criticism of Lukashenko and his government is considered a criminal offence. The country is in a state of 'legal default', and independent media is being pushed out. The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech, but this is contradicted in practice by repressive and restrictive laws.

The government has also imposed strict accreditation rules, making it difficult for independent media to cover public and official events. In addition, the Law on Mass Media has been repeatedly amended to give the government greater control over the media. These amendments have made it virtually impossible for independent journalists and publications to operate. European, Ukrainian, and news websites have been blocked in Belarus, and the government has the power to shut down media outlets without a court decision.

The result of these restrictions is that journalists in Belarus face arbitrary detention, arrests, and harassment. Many have been imprisoned, and many others have been forced to flee the country. Belarus ranks 157th in the World Press Freedom Index as of 2023, and Reporters Without Borders has stated that the country's media "have never been more repressed by the authorities" than since Lukashenko's re-election in 2020.

The constitution guarantees freedom of speech, but this is contradicted in practice

The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech, but this is contradicted in practice by repressive and restrictive laws. The country has one of the most repressive media climates in the world, with independent media banned, websites blocked, and following or sharing certain content punishable by law.

The government monopolizes the media, owning all TV channels and most radio and print media. Any criticism of President Lukashenko and his government is considered a criminal offence, and the country is in a state of 'legal default'. The bureaucracy uses politicized court rulings to oppress independent media and any voices except those loyal to the regime.

The Law on Mass Media has been amended and tightened, making it almost impossible for independent journalists and publications to operate. European, Ukrainian, and news websites have been blocked, and journalists are frequently subject to arbitrary detention, arrests, and harassment. Anti-extremism legislation targets independent journalism, including material considered unfavourable to the president.

Freelance journalists face administrative liabilities for cooperating with foreign mass media without accreditation. They can be fined, and even deported if they are caught working without accreditation. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) has stated that the freedom of speech situation keeps getting worse, with the authorities trying to expand their grip on web and book publishing at the legislative level.

The Belarusian media environment is described as one of the most repressive in Europe, with Belarus falling to 157th place in the World Press Freedom Index as of 2023. The country has also been described as a 'not free' country in terms of internet freedom, with the authorities dominating the information sphere.

Independent journalists face systematic persecution

Independent journalists in Belarus face systematic persecution. The country has been described as having one of the most repressive media climates in the world, with independent media being banned, websites blocked, and independent journalists being systematically persecuted. Many have been imprisoned, while others have been forced to flee the country. Belarus ranks 157th in the World Press Freedom Index as of 2023, with Reporters Without Borders ranking it 154th out of 178 countries in its 2010 Press Freedom Index.

The Law on Mass Media has been amended and tightened, making it extremely difficult for independent journalists to operate. These amendments have given the Ministry of Information the authority to shut down media outlets without a court decision, banned news media from live reporting on unauthorized mass gatherings, and prohibited the publication of opinion poll results that are not approved by the government.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists, established in 1995, has faced significant pressure from the authorities since the 2000s. It was officially closed by officials in 2021 and designated as an 'extremist formation' in 2023, meaning that participation in the association can result in imprisonment.

Freelance journalists face additional challenges, including administrative liabilities for cooperating with foreign media without accreditation. The Belarusian government has also targeted foreign journalists, cancelling their accreditations in October 2020 and only reinstating them for a small number of Russian journalists employed by state-run media outlets.

The government has a history of obstructing the dissemination of information about corruption, the relationship between ruling elites, and the country's economic situation. This suppression of information has been further facilitated by the government's control over traditional media, particularly television broadcasting.

The situation for journalists in Belarus continues to deteriorate, with the government's crackdown on independent media and non-governmental organizations intensifying. Journalists face arbitrary detention, arrests, harassment, and other forms of persecution for simply doing their jobs.

Frequently asked questions