Belarusian Association of Journalists

A court in Minsk has sentenced sociologist Tatsyana Vadalaskaya to a lengthy prison sentence while prosecutors in another case have recommended a harsh sentence for journalist Aksana Kolb on charges related to the anti-Lukashenka protests of 2020.

Several Belarusian media workers will face trial on a range of charges. Those charged with treason – including former deputy director of BelaPAN Andrei Aliaksandrau and Belsat TV journalist Katsiaryna Andrejeva – face 15 years in prison if convicted.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has made a global call to support independent journalism on the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus (February 9). BAJ has provided a guide for how to do this.

Uladz Hrydzin was sentenced on 7 February after being found guilty of refusing to follow police orders to let them enter and search his apartment.

In early November, the Belarusian authorities deemed the BelaPAN news agency and the Belsat TV channel ‘extremist’ organisations, thereby putting journalists, readers, subscribers, and followers of these media organisations at risk of criminal prosecution.

The ruling means that a person or entity will face penalties for distributing any piece of the two websites’ content.

The authorities have launched proceedings to liquidate dozens of organizations that work on a wide array of issues ranging from freedom of expression to disability rights to providing assistance to senior citizens.

“The BAJ is not only a legal address and a registration license but 25 years of successful work that keeps going. This is more than 1,300 media people who remain members of the BAJ despite pressure. We are confident that our community will not disappear” – BAJ