News on the topic: freedom of speech
20.12.2024 2024, the darkest and most repressive year for Belarusian media
Viasna has prepared a detailed report on repression against media workers and persecution of journalists and bloggers in 2024.
25.11.2024 Statement on the recognition of journalist Ihar Iliyash as a political prisoner
Joint statement by human rights organizations of Belarus.
09.09.2024 On the International Day of Solidarity of Journalists, 34 representatives of the Belarusian media are behind bars
This day is extremely relevant for Belarus, where, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, 34 media representatives — journalists, reporters, bloggers — are currently behind bars.
05.09.2024 Lukashenko regime declares Libereco “extremist”
Human rights organisation Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights is "extremist" according to a new assessment by the Belarusian authorities.
08.11.2023 "We associate this with his activities in the protection of human rights." The statement of Viasna in connection with a new criminal case against Leanid Sudalenka
In connection with the information about the beginning of a new criminal prosecution of human rights defender and former political prisoner Leanid Sudalenka for "promoting extremist activities", we, members of the human rights center Viasna, declare the following.
30.08.2023 How the authorities in Belarus persecute readers and journalists of “extremist" media
Viasna looks into how Belarusians get into legal trouble for working with independent media and shares their stories.
17.08.2023 The Viasna Human Rights Center strongly condemns the designation of Viasna Homieĺ as an extremist group
Authorities continue to misuse anti-extremism laws to target the media, civil society organizations, and other pro-democracy entities.
15.08.2023 Social media and website of Viasna Homieĺ branch deemed ‘extremist’
Previously, the KGB put on the extremist list other resources of the human rights center.
03.05.2023 On World Press Freedom Day, 33 journalists remain jailed in Belarus as independent media face persecution
Viasna reports the current state of independent media in the country and tells how to support imprisoned journalists.
06.04.2023 Journalist Aliaksandr Mantsevich is a political prisoner
His imprisonment is another act against freedom of speech in the country.
28.03.2023 Journalists Padabed and Lazarau recognised as political prisoners
One of the most egregious forms of harassment is the criminal prosecution of journalists for “belonging to an extremist organization or promoting extremist activities”.
23.03.2023 Journalists Semchanka and Mazheika sentenced to 3 years in prison for inciting enmity
On March 23, in separate hearings, Minsk Municipal Court convicted a former All-national TV anchor and Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent of "inciting enmity" against public officials.
26.10.2022 Healthcare corruption whistleblower Siarhei Satsuk sentenced to 8 years in jail
The journalist revealed many large-scale corruption facts including COVID-19 data fraud by the Ministry of Health.
21.09.2022 Ivan Murauyou and Yauhen Merkis recognized as political prisoners
Joint statement of the Belarusian human rights community
30.11.2021 Journalist Iryna Slaunikava is a political prisoner
Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
