Journalists' Woes: Belarus' Dark Underbelly Exposed

Belarus is one of the most difficult countries in Europe for independent journalists to work in. Since the rigged 2020 presidential election, journalists have been targeted by the regime, with at least 300 forced into exile. The country's media is monopolized by the government, which owns all TV channels and most radio and print media. The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech, but this is contradicted in practice by repressive and restrictive laws. Arbitrary detention, arrests, and harassment of journalists are frequent in Belarus. Anti-extremism legislation targets independent journalism, and any criticism of President Lukashenko and his government is considered a criminal offense. The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported more than 60 cases of criminal prosecution of journalists and bloggers in 2021.

Belarus has revoked the accreditations of journalists working for foreign media and covering anti-government protests

Belarus has revoked the accreditations of journalists working for foreign media outlets and covering anti-government protests, sparking outrage from press freedom advocates and foreign governments. This incident is just the latest in a series of crackdowns on independent media and journalists in Belarus, which has been labelled as having one of the most repressive media environments in Europe.

The accreditations of 17 journalists from various international news organisations, including Reuters, the BBC, and Radio Liberty, were revoked by the Belarusian government in 2020. This decision was made on the grounds of security concerns, according to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, though no specific acts warranting the loss of accreditation were mentioned. The affected journalists had been covering the anti-government protests that erupted after a disputed presidential election in which Alexander Lukashenko secured a sixth consecutive term.

The Belarusian government has a history of harassing and targeting independent journalists and media outlets. Arbitrary detentions, arrests, and censorship of journalists are common, and anti-extremism legislation is often used to target independent media. The government has also banned most independent and opposition newspapers from being distributed through state-owned postal and kiosk systems.

The country's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has dropped significantly in recent years, reflecting the deteriorating media freedom situation. European, Ukrainian, and other news websites have been blocked, and foreign media outlets have been banned from the country. The law on mass media has been repeatedly amended to restrict independent journalism further.

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk expressed concern over the targeting of journalists and the blocking of independent media, and the BBC and AFP also issued statements condemning the revocation of accreditations. Despite international pressure, the Belarusian government has shown no signs of reversing its restrictive media policies, and the situation for journalists in the country remains dire.

The government monopolises the media, owning all TV channels, most of the radio and print media

Belarus has a long history of media repression, with the government monopolising the industry and owning all TV channels, most radio stations, and print media. This has resulted in a highly controlled narrative, with independent journalists and publications finding it nearly impossible to operate.

The government's tight grip on the media can be traced back to the early 2000s when, to avoid the influence of Russian media, a special presidential decree established the Second National Channel (BT-2) to replace Channel One Russia and reduce the broadcast time of other popular Russian channels. This was the beginning of the government's attempt to control the flow of information to the Belarusian people.

In 2008, the government approved the Law on Mass Media, which secured even more state control over the media and made the Ministry of Information of Belarus (MIB) its main regulator. This law has been amended multiple times to further restrict independent media. For instance, in 2018, amendments introduced tighter accreditation rules, allowed the extrajudicial shutting down of online and social media, and made website owners responsible for the content of their comments sections.

The Belarusian government has also taken steps to restrict foreign media influence. In 2014, foreign ownership of domestic broadcast media was restricted to a maximum of 20%. Additionally, in October 2020, the accreditations of all foreign journalists in Belarus were cancelled, with only a handful of Russian journalists employed by state-run media successfully reapplying.

The result of these actions is a highly controlled media landscape where independent journalism is systematically persecuted. The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported more than 60 cases of criminal prosecution of journalists and bloggers in 2021. As of 2023, 33 journalists were in jail, including chief editors and reporters from various outlets.

The government's actions have not gone unnoticed by international organisations. Reporters Without Borders ranked Belarus 154th out of 178 countries in its 2010 Press Freedom Index, and the country's ranking has only dropped since then. In 2023, Belarus ranked 157th in the World Press Freedom Index, and the BBC described the Belarusian media environment as one of the most repressive in Europe.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported that 33 journalists were behind bars in Belarus

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported that, as of 2023, 33 journalists were imprisoned in Belarus. This is part of a wider trend of media repression in the country, which has seen it ranked 157th in the World Press Freedom Index.

The BAJ has been a target of the Belarusian authorities, who stripped the organisation of its legal status and persecuted its leadership and members. In February 2023, the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus (KGB) recognised the BAJ as an extremist organisation.

The Belarusian media landscape is monopolised by the government, which owns all TV channels, most radio stations, and print media. The few remaining independent media outlets have been pushed out of the country or blocked. The constitution of Belarus guarantees freedom of speech, but this is contradicted in practice by repressive and restrictive laws. Arbitrary detention, arrests, and the harassment of journalists are frequent.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of journalists who were imprisoned as of 2023:

• Marina Zolotova, chief editor of Tut.by
• Jahor Marcinovič, chief editor of Nasha Niva
• Katerina Andreeva and Darya Chultsova, Belsat reporters
• Ksenia Lutskina, former employee of Belarus 2 TV channel
• Denis Ivashin, journalist for Novy Chas
• Andrzej Poczobut, Grodno-based journalist and representative of the Union of Poles in Belarus
• Alexander Ivulin, journalist for Tribuna.com
• Valeriya Kostyugova, editor of the Belarusian Yearbook
• Irina Levshina, editor of BelaPAN
• Gennady Mozheyko, journalist for Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi
• Andrei Kuznechik, freelance journalist for Radio Liberty
• Serhiy Satsuk, investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of Yezhednevnik
• Oleg Gruzdilovich, journalist for Radio Liberty
• Ihar Losik, admin of the "Belarus Brain" Telegram channel and RFE/RL consultant
• Inna Mozhchenko, journalist for BelTA
• Dzianis Ivashyn, investigative journalist for Novy Chas
• Vladislav Savin, blogger and ex-ONT TV employee
• Ales Lyubenchuk, journalist
• Ivan Muravyov, freelance videographer

The government has been accused of targeting independent media and opposition voices, labelling them as extremist

The government of Belarus has been accused of targeting independent media and opposition voices, labelling them as extremist. This has resulted in a severe crackdown on dissent, with journalists and political opponents facing detention, prosecution, and violence at the hands of the authorities.

The Belarusian government, led by President Alexander Lukashenko, has a history of repressing independent media and dissenting voices. Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and has maintained control over the country through authoritarian means, including manipulated elections and arbitrary decrees. The government monopolizes the media, owning all TV channels and most radio and print media. This allows them to propagate pro-government views while disparaging and silencing opposition voices.

In 2020, a wave of protests rocked Belarus following a disputed presidential election in which Lukashenko secured a sixth consecutive term. The protests, which lasted for months, were met with harsh measures from the government. Thousands of protesters were detained, and many opposition figures were forced to flee the country. The government also began a systematic persecution of independent journalists, with many being imprisoned, forced into exile, or subjected to other forms of repression.

The Belarusian authorities have used anti-extremism legislation to target independent media and opposition voices. This legislation criminalizes any material considered unfavourable to the president and has been applied broadly to silence dissent. The government has labelled numerous independent media outlets and opposition groups as "extremist", effectively outlawing them and making it dangerous for journalists and activists to continue their work.

The crackdown on independent media has had a chilling effect on freedom of expression in Belarus. Journalists have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, detentions, and violence. Many have been forced to flee the country, while those who remain risk arrest and prosecution. The few independent media outlets that continue to operate self-censor their content to avoid reprisals from the government.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists, a local journalist organization, has documented the crackdown on media freedoms. According to their reports, dozens of journalists have been detained and multiple independent media outlets have been shut down or blocked. The organization itself was designated as an "extremist formation" by the KGB in 2023, making membership punishable by prison sentences.

The international community has widely condemned the Belarusian government's actions. The US Embassy in Minsk has expressed concern over the targeting of journalists, the blocking of independent media, and the intermittent internet blackouts. The European Broadcasting Union has also called on the Belarusian authorities to "stop the persecution of independent media". Despite the international pressure, the Belarusian government has shown no signs of easing its crackdown on independent media and opposition voices.

Journalists have been subjected to violence, threats of violence, unjustified arrests and prosecutions, censorship, and the enforcement of criminal libel laws

Journalists in Belarus have faced violence, threats of violence, arrests, prosecutions, censorship, and criminal libel laws.

Violence and Threats of Violence

Journalists in Belarus have been subjected to violence and threats of violence by the country's security forces. During the 2020 protests, journalists were targeted by security forces and attacked with rubber bullets. One journalist, Natallia Lubneuskaja, was shot with a rubber bullet while covering a protest in Minsk, resulting in her hospitalization for a month. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) recorded over 133 serious violations against journalists between the start of the election campaign on May 8 and August 11, 2020.

Unjustified Arrests and Prosecutions

Belarusian authorities have frequently detained, arrested, and harassed journalists. In 2020, around 370 journalists were arrested in the country following the disputed reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, with eight still being held. Journalists have been arrested and prosecuted under arbitrary legislation, such as charges of spreading false information or violating social distancing regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Censorship and Criminal Libel Laws

The Belarusian government has imposed strict censorship on the media, with all independent media outlets being pushed out of the country after 2020. The Law on Mass Media has been amended multiple times to restrict the activities of independent journalists and publications. The government has blocked websites, shut down media outlets without court decisions, and banned live reporting on unauthorized mass gatherings. Additionally, anti-extremism legislation targets independent journalism, and any criticism of President Lukashenko is considered a criminal offense. Journalists have been charged and sentenced to lengthy prison terms under these repressive laws.

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