Belarusian journalist Syarhei Chihrin detained for 7 days on extremism charges
Paris, December 20, 2022 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Syarhei Chihrin and stop using the country’s extremism legislation against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 16, security forces in the southwestern city of Slonim detained Chihrin and a local court ordered him to be held for…
Forensic tools open new front for using phone data to prosecute journalists
On April 13, police in Russia’s Khakassiya republic arrested Mikhail Afanasyev and seized his digital devices. Afanasyev, chief editor of the online magazine Novy Fokus, was detained based on an article about riot police in southern Siberia refusing to serve in Ukraine. He faces a possible 10-year prison sentence for spreading “false” information. It’s not surprising for…
Belarusian authorities revoke registration of Belarusy y Rynok newspaper
Paris, December 14, 2022— Belarusian authorities should reverse a recent decision to cancel the registration of the independent business newspaper Belarusy y Rynok and cease all efforts to censor the outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On December 1, the Belarusian Ministry of Information ordered Belarusy y Rynok’s registration to be annulled, according…
Number of jailed journalists spikes to new global record
The number of journalists jailed around the world set yet another record in 2022. In a year marked by conflict and repression, authoritarian leaders doubled down on their criminalization of independent reporting, deploying increasing cruelty to stifle dissenting voices and undermine press freedom. Published December 14, 2022 By Arlene Getz/CPJ Editorial Director Worst Offenders |…
Former Belsat TV contributor Larysa Shchyrakova detained in Belarus on undisclosed charges
Paris, December 9, 2022 — Belarusian authorities should publicly disclose the reason for former Belsat TV journalist Larysa Shchyrakova’s arrest or release her immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, December 6, authorities in the southeastern city of Homel detained Shchyrakova, a former journalist with the banned Poland-based independent broadcaster Belsat TV,…
Belarusian journalist Dzmitry Luksha sentenced to 4 years in prison
Paris, December 2, 2022 — In response to a Belarusian court’s sentencing of journalist Dzmitry Luksha to four years in prison on Friday, December 2, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The four-year prison sentence imposed on Dzmitry Luksha, just for doing his job as a journalist, shows that Belarusian…
Belarusian journalist Aliaksandr Lyubyanchuk sentenced to 3 years in prison
Paris, October 27, 2022 – Belarusian authorities must immediately release Aliaksandr Lyubyanchuk, who was sentenced today to three years in prison, and stop retaliating against journalists for their work with banned Poland-based independent broadcaster Belsat TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, October 27, a court in Minsk, the capital, convicted Lyubyanchuk…
Belarus court sentences journalist Siarhei Satsuk to 8 years in prison
Paris, October 26, 2022 – Belarusian authorities must immediately release Siarhei Satsuk, who was sentenced to eight years in prison, along with all other journalists currently behind bars, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Wednesday, October 26, a court in Minsk, the capital, found Satsuk, chief editor of the independent Yezhednevnik news website,…
Belarusian journalists detained, forced to make ‘confession’ videos
Paris, October 12, 2022—Belarusian authorities are continuing their crackdown on the country’s independent media with a spate of fresh arrests and detentions of several journalists. On Thursday, October 6, police in Minsk, the capital, detained Snezhana Inanets, a reporter at the independent news website Onliner, and her husband Aliaksandr Lychavko, a local historian and reporter…
CPJ condemns Belarus ‘witch hunt’ after three BelaPAN journalists sentenced to lengthy prison terms
Paris, October 6, 2022 – Belarusian authorities must immediately release Andrei Aliaksandrau, Dzmitry Navazhylau, and Iryna Leushyna, three former and current employees of independent Belarusian news agency BelaPAN who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 to 14 years on various charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. All three have denied the charges, and Leushyna and…