News on the topic: journalists
08.11.2018 Journalists involved in BelTA case face formal charges
Eight journalists working with the tut.by and belapan.by news websites have been officially charged with “unauthorized accesses to computer information” in what is known as the “BelTA case”, Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
03.09.2018 Amnesty International condemns low point for freedom of expression in Belarus
The right to freedom of expression in Belarus has been dealt a series of severe blows in recent weeks, as the authorities’ crusade against journalists and independent media outlets continues. The latest moves by the Belarusian authorities demonstrate their resolve to eliminate all critical voices in the country and deprive people in Belarus of the opportunity to freely access, share and disseminate information and ideas.
13.08.2018 Belarus cracks down on journalists and publishers as oppressive new media laws bite, UN expert warns
GENEVA (10 August 2018) – A wave of raids and arbitrary arrests targeting independent publishers and journalists in Belarus highlights oppressive new rules against internet media in the country, says the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti.
10.08.2018 Statement of the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
In connection with the wave of searches in the editorial offices of the media and the detention of journalists
09.08.2018 BelaPAN chief editor detained, more journalists remain in custody
Iryna Leushyna, chief editor of the BelaPAN news agency, has been detained today, tut.by said. Her apartment has been searched and computer equipment seized.
08.08.2018 Four journalists still in detention, as searches of media continue
Maryna Zolatava, Hanna Kaltyhina and Halina Ulasik, editors of tut.by, the country’s leading online newspaper, as well as belapan.by journalist Tatsiana Karaviankova, remain in custody on charges of illegal access to the government-owned news agency BelTA. The whereabouts of one more tut.by editor, Hanna Yermachonak, is still unknown.
08.08.2018 Council of Europe: Liberate all arrested journalists
Searches and arrests in Belarusian media. Statement by the CoE's Spokesperson of the Secretary General
08.08.2018 Statement on searches of media outlets and arrests of journalists
On August 7, the Investigative Committee of Belarus said that it opened a criminal case under Part 2, Art. 349 of the Criminal Code (“illegal access to computer information obtained out of other personal interest, which caused significant damage”). Reports also said that the law-enforcement agencies detained journalists Maryna Zolatava, Hanna Kaltyhina, Halina Ulasik, Ulyiana Babayed (tut.by) and Tatsiana Karaviankova (BelaPAN). According to our information, several more journalists were also detained.
07.08.2018 7 journalists held in criminal case against independent websites
The Minsk offices of tut.by and belapan.by, Belarus’s biggest independent websites, have been searched by police this morning.
19.07.2018 Civil Rights Defenders: Situation for Independent Journalists Reaches New Low in Belarus
Belarusian journalists Volha Czajczyc and Andrei Kozel were recently prosecuted and threatened with heavy fines and loss of property because of their journalistic activities and cooperation with the independent TV channel Belsat. Civil Rights Defenders urges Belarus to ensure the safety of Volha Czajczyc, Andrei Kozel and all other independent journalists in the country.
18.07.2018 Human rights defenders call to drop criminal charges against BelaPAN director
Statement on the criminal prosecution of Ales Lipai, director of the BelaPAN news agency, and pressure on journalists in Belarus
23.02.2018 Reporters Without Borders: Journalists, bloggers barred from vote count in Belarus
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the explusions of several journalists and bloggers from voting stations in Minsk as votes were being counted after the Belarusian municipal elections on 18 February. RSF regard the evictions, in which violence was used, as deliberate censorship. Observers meanwhile claimed that election fraud took place.
25.08.2017 Reporters Without Borders: Five Belsat TV reporters on trial
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Belarusian regime’s increasing persecution of the country’s few remaining independent journalists, as evidenced by the trials of five of them today and tomorrow on charges of working for foreign media without press accreditation.
02.05.2017 Several people detained in May Day protests across Belarus
At least 15 people were detained by the police before and after yesterday’s protests held across Belarus, including opposition leaders Mikalai Statkevich and Pavel Seviarynets.
05.04.2017 Human Rights Watch: Keep up pressure on Belarus to release detainees and respect fundamental freedoms
“Belarusian authorities led a shocking, all-out assault on peaceful assembly around the Freedom Day protests,” said Yulia Gorbunova, Belarus researcher at Human Rights Watch. “They should immediately release everyone who was detained in connection with the protests and investigate allegations of police mistreatment.”
