Ales Bialiatski, a well-known Belarusian human rights defender, was released from prison on Saturday after staying for almost three years behind bars on politically motivated charges, Andrei Aliaksandrau reports from Minsk.
The authorities in Belarus are trying to ensure that no one spoils the upcoming World ice hockey championship the country hosts — not even human rights activists. Andrei Aliaksandrau reports
Analysis shows there have been no visible improvements of Belrusian media freedom during in recent years. The authorities must now act.
One of the greatest chills on the freedom of expression in Belarus is the disappearance, murder, suspicious suicide and impunity against media workers that has demonstrated the very real physical risks that those who practice independent journalism in Belarus face.
Despite the constitutional guarantees and international obligations, Belarusian laws, by-laws and practices of their implementation seriously restrict the media freedom.
The authorities in Belarus tilt the media market toward state-owned players to help cement the government’s hold on power and deny the rise of a truly independent press.
Belarus continues to have one of the most restrictive and hostile media environments in Europe.
In a new policy paper, launched today in Minsk, Index on Censorship calls for the much-needed reforms of the media field in Belarus.
The political prisoner can be “pardoned” if “it is proved the damage he caused with the tax fraud has been repaid.”
The book by the political prisoner could “damage the image” of the country according to authorities. Andrei Aliaksandrau reports