Over 150 media representatives sign open letter to Belarus authorities: «Stop the witch-hunt!»

STOP THE WITCH HUNT!

State­ment of the media sec­tor rep­re­sen­ta­tives addressed to the Belaru­sian author­i­ties

On May 3, the civ­i­lized world cel­e­brat­ed the World Press Free­dom Day. And the next day, May 4, the Min­istry of Infor­ma­tion of Belarus issued an offi­cial warn­ing to the region­al news­pa­per Intex-Press (Baranavichy) — for pub­lish­ing an inter­view with Svi­at­lana Tikhanouskaya. At the same time, «Belpochta» refused to include the news­pa­per in the sub­scrip­tion cat­a­log, and «Bel­sayuz­druk» — to sell it through its kiosks.

For months, the Belaru­sian author­i­ties have been dis­crim­i­nat­ing against inde­pen­dent news­pa­per Nar­o­d­naya Volya. Recent­ly Nar­o­d­naya Volya has made anoth­er attempt to break the block­ade and sign a con­tract for print­ing in any state-owned or pri­vate press. All for naught — all answers were in the neg­a­tive.

Bel­Gaze­ta, Svo­bod­nye Novosti Plus, Kom­so­mol­skaya Prav­da in Belarus , Novy Chas, Haze­ta Slonim­skaya, and Brest­skaya Gaze­ta had prob­lems with print­ing and dis­tri­b­u­tion.

Most of them have sus­pend­ed their paper copies and only run their web­sites. But even there the free­dom of expres­sion is severe­ly restrict­ed. TUT.BY has been deprived of an «online media» sta­tus. The author­i­ties used to block access to the major­i­ty of inde­pen­dent news web­sites, they con­tin­ue to per­se­cute blog­gers, admin­is­tra­tors of YouTube- and Telegram-chan­nels and local chat groups, and peo­ple who leave com­ments in social net­works.

The pres­sure on jour­nal­ists has only increased. There were almost 500 deten­tions and 100 arrests last year alone! Every day jour­nal­ists are per­se­cut­ed for doing their jobs. Today, 11 jour­nal­ists are behind bars. Three of them — Kat­siary­na Andreye­va (Bakhvala­va), Daria Chultso­va, and Kat­siary­na Bary­se­vich have already been sen­tenced to impris­on­ment mere­ly for doing usu­al jour­nal­ism.

Alarm­ing is the sit­u­a­tion with media leg­is­la­tion which is dete­ri­o­rat­ing rapid­ly. The gov­ern­ment seek to make jour­nal­ism a ser­vice trade. State-owned media are increas­ing­ly using strong hate speech, accus­ing peo­ple who can not defend them­selves of all crimes pos­si­ble, spread­ing false pro­pa­gan­da, under the guise of news, and that includes pro-Russ­ian pro­pa­gan­da (at the expense of pub­lic funds of Belarus), are in fact «media hit squads».

We, rep­re­sen­ta­tives of the media sec­tor, urge the gov­ern­ment to stop the «witch hunt.» The right to express one’s opin­ion is enshrined in the Con­sti­tu­tion of the Repub­lic of Belarus and in numer­ous inter­na­tion­al doc­u­ments signed by our state.

We demand:

- stop the crim­i­nal pros­e­cu­tion of jour­nal­ists, release from prison all mem­bers of the media and oth­er cit­i­zens who are impris­oned for per­form­ing their pro­fes­sion­al duties or for express­ing their opin­ions;

- return the inde­pen­dent news media in print­ing and dis­tri­b­u­tion net­works;

- restore access to the web­sites of inde­pen­dent media;

- stop unjus­ti­fied inter­fer­ence by the state bod­ies in the activ­i­ty of mass media and admin­is­tra­tive pres­sure on jour­nal­ists and media.

Andrei Bas­tunets, chair­per­son of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Iosif Siaredzich, Belaru­sian jour­nal­ist, chief edi­tor and pub­lish­er of Nar­o­d­naya Volya news­pa­per.

Uladz­imir Yanuke­vich, Intex-Press chief edi­tor

Mikalai Kazlovich,          Chief Edi­tor of Onliner.by

Barys Haret­s­ki, Deputy chair of the Belaruss­ian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists.

Valery Ruse­lik, jour­nal­ist, blog­ger

Yan­i­na Mel­nika­va, chief edi­tor of Greenbelarus.info

Ali­ak­sei Dzikav­it­s­ki, Deputy Direc­tor of Bel­sat TV

Ali­ak­sei Shota, chief edi­tor of Hrodna.life

Iri­na Krylovich, edi­tor of belrynok.by

Ali­na Skrabuno­va, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Nas­tas­sia Rou­da, edi­tor, direc­tor of mar­ket­ing and adver­tis­ing depart­ment of Nasha Niva

Tat­siana Niad­bai, writer, human rights activist, cul­tur­al and media projects man­ag­er

Miko­la Kananovich, chief edi­tor of Haze­ta Slonim­skaya

Yahor Martsi­novich, chief edi­tor of Nasha Niva

Siarhei Skulavets,  Bel­sat jour­nal­ist

Zhan­na Nohi­na, jour­nal­ist, BAJ  mem­ber

Iry­na Leushy­na, direc­tor, chief edi­tor of Bela­PAN

Vik­tar Marchuk, Chief Edi­tor of Brest­skaya Gaze­ta

Andrei Mialesh­ka, jour­nal­ist, mem­ber of BAJ

Art­siom Har­bat­se­vich, deputy chief edi­tor of Nasha Niva

Ale­na Yakzhyk, edi­tor of gazetaby.com

Yulia Matuza­va, Euro­ra­dio jour­nal­ist

Ryna Slau­nika­va, rep­re­sen­ta­tive of Bel­sat TV chan­nel in Belarus

Anton Surapin, mem­ber of the BAJ Board

Andrei Alek­san­drovich, edi­tor-in-chief of the Belorusy I Rynok news­pa­per

Siarhei Sat­suk, chief edi­tor of EJ.by

Ali­ak­sander Ulit­sion­ak, founder and edi­tor-in-chief of the SNplus news­pa­per. Svo­bod­nye Novosti Plus

Anna Jak­sh­tas, Edi­tor-in-Chief of Strong News

Piotr Kuz­ni­at­sou, founder of «Strong News — Homel.Today» and Mogilev.Online

Aleh Aheyeu, Deputy Chair­man of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Snezhana Pahodz­i­na, Strong News jour­nal­ist

Tat­siana Piskur, Deputy Direc­tor of Brest­skaya Gaze­ta

Aksana Palazhenets, edi­tor of the media resource Deaf­S­port­Be­larus

Aksana Kolb, edi­tor-in-chief of Novy Chas news­pa­per

Vol­ha Khvoin, head of the infor­ma­tion ser­vice of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists, edi­tor

Svi­at­lana Kalink­i­na, Edi­tor-in-Chief of Belarus­Par­ti­san

Diana Ser­adz­iuk, jour­nal­ist of Novy Chas news­pa­per

Vol­ha Nevi­adom­skaya, edi­tor of Viteb­sk Couri­er News

Tat­siana Smotk­i­na, free­lance jour­nal­ist, mem­ber of the BAJ Coun­cil

Dzmit­ry Dzmit­ryeu, pho­to cor­re­spon­dent of the Novy Chas news­pa­per

Valiantsi­na Veshtart, mem­ber of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists, jour­nal­ist

Ale­na Prykhodz­ka, Radio Unet jour­nal­ist

Dzmit­ry Yaho­rau, Bel­sat, jour­nal­ist

Andrei Buka, web edi­tor of Krynica.info

Siarhei Pul­sha, Deputy Edi­tor of Novy Chas news­pa­per

Anna Kruchko­va, jour­nal­ist, mem­ber of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Iry­na Kupt­se­vich, jour­nal­ist of Reform.by

Ali­ak­san­dr Ziank­ou, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Mary­na Zolata­va, edi­tor-in-chief of TUT.BY.

George Stanke­vich, poet, teacher

Ana­tol Sanat­sen­ka, edi­tor-in-chief of the Bobruisk Couri­er, writer

Henadz Sharyp­kin, jour­nal­ist of «Belarusy I Rynok»

Kiryll Zhy­val­ovich, Edi­tor-in-Chief of Bel­Gaze­ta

Ali­na Koushyk, edi­tor, Bel­sat

Vol­ha Shpara­ha, philoso­pher

Kas­tus Shy­tal, blog­ger, mem­ber of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Kas­tus Lashke­vich, jour­nal­ist, mem­ber of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Euge­nia Dol­haya, reform.by jour­nal­ist

Ale­na Naskovich, head of the Luninets branch of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Siarhei Vahanau, jour­nal­ism “old-timer”, mem­ber of the BAJ Ethics Com­mis­sion

Dzmit­ry Pad­biarezsky, Deputy Edi­tor-in-chief of Art Mag­a­zine

Nadzeya Belakhvostik, Edi­tor-in-chief of Medi­aIQ

Fio­dar Pauli­uchen­ka, edi­tor-in-chief of Reform.by

Natalia Belika­va, Project Man­ag­er, Press Club Jour­nal­ism Work­shop

Tama­ra Zen­i­na, Sol­i­dar­i­ty jour­nal­ist

Vitaut Rud­nik, Chair­man of the Board of Third Sec­tor Cen­ter

Natalia Pravalin­skaya, edi­tor-in-chief of dev.by.

Ihar Ilyash, jour­nal­ist, Bel­sat

Ina Dobratvor, teacher, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Mikalai Mam­inau, doc­u­men­tary film­mak­er. Pho­tog­ra­ph­er of inter­na­tion­al news agen­cies

Mary­na Khare­vich, Bela­PAN jour­nal­ist

Taras Tar­nal­it­s­ki, edi­tor of av.by projects, free­lancer with budzma.by

Kat­siary­na Siniuk, Ime­na plat­form («Ime­na Media»), founder, jour­nal­ist

Alexan­der Kornyshau, co-own­er of Viteb­sk Couri­er news

Uladz­imir Kryuche­nia, jour­nal­ist of natatnik.by, mem­ber of BAJ

Ali­ak­sander Mant­se­vich, Rehiyanal­naya Haze­ta, edi­tor-in-chief

Han­na Azemsha, edi­tor, Bel­sat

Zoya Khrut­skaya, Deputy edi­tor of the Rehiyanal­naya Haze­ta

Natalia Makushy­na, jour­nal­ist

Dzmit­ry Salavy­ou, Edi­tor-in-Chief of «Mahil­iou Region» (6tv.by)

Miko­la Bianko, jour­nal­ist, chair­man of the Homel branch of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Vol­ha Yer­malaye­va-Franko, mem­ber of the Belaru­sian Asso­ci­a­tion of Jour­nal­ists

Angela Espinosa Ruiz, poet, teacher, pub­li­cist

Mila Poli­ak, founder of EX-PRESS.BY

Aleh Supruniuk, edi­tor of 1reg.by

Stanis­lau Kor­shu­nau, jour­nal­ist of TUT.BY.

Alek­sander Klask­ous­ki, head of ana­lyt­i­cal projects of Bela­PAN

Ale­na Shabunia, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Iry­na Novik, edi­tor of Hrodna.life spe­cial projects

Zmitser Kaza­ke­vich, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Andrei Lianke­vich, pho­to­jour­nal­ist

Siarhei Hrud­nit­s­ki, Inter­fax-West colum­nist

Piotr Huzaeus­ki, edi­tor-in-chief of Hantsav­it­s­ki Chas news­pa­per

Yulia Katarzyn­skaya, Man­ag­er, Mem­ber of the BAJ Board

Alexan­der Kok­tysh, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Svi­at­lana Stanke­vich, jour­nal­ist of Reform.by

Ale­sia Vazh­nik, Bela­PAN

Hleb Lia­pei­ka, jour­nal­ist of Mediazone.Belarus

Kat­siary­na Karpit­skaya, jour­nal­ist

Mak­sim Berazin­s­ki, Tribuna.com

Maria Kalesniko­va, edi­tor of the Euro­pean Radio for Belarus

Yauhen Kazart­sau, Euro­ra­dio jour­nal­ist

Iry­na Vidana­va, mem­ber of the BAJ Board, co-founder of CityDog.by

Anas­ta­sia Rubana­va, edi­tor of novychas.by

Yury Plotkin, edi­tor-in-chief of the por­tal «Mashe­ka» (masheka.by)

Hali­na Ulasik, edi­tor of TUT.BY.

Ale­na Sadouskaya, edi­tor, jour­nal­ist

Lud­mi­la Kotchyk, Deputy Edi­tor-in-Chief of Brest­skaya Gaze­ta

Ali­ak­sei Kairis, mem­ber of BAJ, jour­nal­ist, his­to­ri­an

Aksana Yarashonak, jour­nal­ist of Rehiyanal­naya Haze­ta, Maladech­na

Art­siom Siz­intsau, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Alexan­der Liushke­vich, Deputy edi­tor-in-chief of the Belarusy I Rynok news­pa­per

Kat­siary­na Hardzeye­va, pho­to­jour­nal­ist

Daria Spe­vak, Onlin­er jour­nal­ist

Svi­at­lana Tsishko, edi­tor-in-chief of kraj.by.

Pauliuk Byk­ous­ki, jour­nal­ist

Valery Sli­a­pukhin, a civ­il activist

Kse­nia Halubovich, direc­tor, pho­tog­ra­ph­er

Anas­ta­sia Zakhare­vich, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Maria Rode, cor­re­spon­dent of Arte TV chan­nel (Ger­many-France)

Tat­siana Harha­lyk, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Viale­ta Sauchyts, pho­to­jour­nal­ist of Bela­PAN

Yulia Hunashvili, Deputy Edi­tor-in-Chief of Bel­Gaze­ta

Marat Har­avy, jour­nal­ist of Novy Chas news­pa­per

Dzia­n­is Burk­ous­ki, jour­nal­ist of TUT.BY.

Alla Burk­ouskaya, TUT.BY.

Yauhen Merkis, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Ale­na Spa­siuk, jour­nal­ist of Bela­PAN, Naviny.by

Andrei Vyshyn­s­ki, Edi­tor-in-Chief of Inform-Progul­ka

Larysa Malakha­va, jour­nal­ist of the «IMENA» plat­form

Ire­na Kat­selovich, jour­nal­ist of Nasha Niva and Bel­sat

Iry­na Koz­lik, jour­nal­ist

Siarhei Zianko, jour­nal­ist

Alexan­der Velitchen­ka, free­lance jour­nal­ist («Green­Be­larus», «Novy Chas»)

Yauhen Sukhaver, free­lance jour­nal­ist, author of the «Rac­ing Psy­chopa­thy» blog

Andrei Kukharchyk, edi­tor of the «Vir­tu­al Brest» site

Ali­ak­sei Khu­danau, Media IQ jour­nal­ist

Anas­ta­sia Zanko, edi­tor of the Onliner.by depart­ment

Larysa Shchyrako­va, free­lance jour­nal­ist

Vadz­im Vezh­navets, Edi­tor-in-Chief of Radio Ranak

Vik­tar Yarashuk, free­lancer

Mak­sim Sarychau, pho­tog­ra­ph­er, SHKLO plat­form

Vol­ha Shavela, jour­nal­ist of the news­pa­per Belarusy I Rynok

Siarhei Zenko, jour­nal­ist

Andrei Shan­tarovich, free­lancer

Yulia Vau­chok, free­lance jour­nal­ist, pro­duc­er of media and cul­tur­al projects

Henadz Kesner, mem­ber of the BAJ Coun­cil

Liud­mi­la Hmi­aleuska­ia, writer, jour­nal­ist, mem­ber of BAJ