Belarus / Europe & Central Asia

  

Belarus police detain at least 17 journalists covering protests in support of opposition candidates

New York, July 16, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should stop harassing, detaining, and charging members of the press covering protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 14 and 15, police in the cities of Minsk, Brest, and Homel detained at least 17 journalists covering protests against the Central Electoral…

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Belarusian authorities detain at least 6 bloggers since June 15

Vilnius, Lithuania, July 1, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release all journalists held for their work, and allow the press to cover the country’s upcoming elections without fear of prosecution, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.  Since June 15, authorities throughout the country have arrested at least six bloggers, according to news reports. Speaking…

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Independent media advocate and journalist tell of challenges covering Belarus’s upcoming elections and coronavirus

As Belarus’s August 9, 2020, presidential election nears with President Aleksandr Lukashenko vying to remain in power after 26 years in office, press freedom advocates say Belarusian authorities are cracking down on journalists and government critics.  Over three days starting June 25, Belarusian authorities arrested several popular bloggers: Ihor Losik, Serhei Petrukhin, Aleksandr Kabanau, Volodimir…

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Police detain journalists covering protests in Belarus, charge 3

Vilnius, Lithuania, June 22, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should stop prosecuting and harassing journalists covering protests, the Committee to Protect Journalist said today.  On June 19, police officers detained at least 14 journalists covering protests in Minsk, the capital, and other cities against the reelection of President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and today, local courts convicted three…

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Soldiers are seen in Minsk, Belarus, on April 9, 2020. Security forces recently arrested five journalists for their coverage of an opposition candidate. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

Belarus jails 5 journalists over coverage of opposition candidate

Vilnius, Lithuania, May 15, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release the journalists detained over their coverage of the country’s political opposition, and let the press work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Security guards are seen in Borisov, Belarus, on April 24, 2020. Belarus recently cancelled the accreditations for two journalists covering COVID-19. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

Belarus cancels 2 journalists’ accreditations after covering COVID-19 deaths

Vilnius, Lithuania, May 8, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should reinstate the accreditations of journalists Aleksey Kruchinin and Sergey Panasyuk and allow them to report freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A medical worker is seen in Minsk, Belarus, on March 13, 2020. Journalist Siarhei Satsuk was recently detained on bribery charges after publishing reporting on COVID-19. (AP/Sergei Grits)

Belarusian journalist Siarhei Satsuk detained on bribery charges after publishing COVID-19 report

Vilnius, Lithuania, March 31, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Siarhei Satsuk and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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10 Most Censored Countries

Repressive governments use sophisticated digital censorship and surveillance alongside more traditional methods to silence independent media. A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Published September 10, 2019 Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, according to a list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The list is based on CPJ’s research into the…

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A view of the site for the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus. Journalists covering the Games should be aware of local regulations on media accreditation and digital safety issues. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the European Games in Belarus

The second European Games is scheduled to take place in Minsk, Belarus, from June 21 to June 30. Local and international journalists covering the Games should be aware of media regulations, the potential for data theft, and the risk of a digital security breach.

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Workers at the site of a shooting range in Minsk, in 2018, that will be used when Belarus hosts the European Games. CPJ and Human Rights Watch are calling on the European Olympic Committees to establish a complaints hotline for journalists for the event. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

Belarus: Use Europe Games to Spur Media Freedom

Press Freedom Day Throws Spotlight on Need to Assure Safe Reporting Brussels, May 3, 2019–The European Olympic Committees (EOC) should establish a complaints hotline for journalists during the 2019 European Games, Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Belarus will host the games, a multi-sport event for more than 4,000 athletes,…

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