European Federation of Journalists

European Federation of Journalists

Wave of support in Europe for Belarusian journalists

Picture credit: Petras Malukas / AFP.

 

 

In recent days, the affiliates of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have massively demonstrated their support for journalists who are victims of violence in Belarus. Following our call, EFJ affiliates have written to their governments to demand sanctions against those responsible for violence and electoral fraud and a review of cooperation between the European Union and Belarus. Many journalists’ organisations offer logistical or financial assistance to Belarusian colleagues.

The EFJ forwarded to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) the expressions of support from journalists’ unions and associations in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

In Denmark, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod immediately responded to the call by the Danish Union of Journalists (DJ), International Media Support (IMS), UNESCO-Denmark and the European Federation of Journalists the EFJ, to react to the situation in Belarus. Representatives of the four organisations met with the Minister on Thursday.

Tine Johansen, President of DJ said: “We have seen unprecedented violent attacks on journalists in Belarus. This is why I welcome the reaction of our Foreign Minister in support of media freedom and the safety of journalists.”

EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregård stressed the importance of strategic, coordinated and long-term actions: “The Minister’s full support is accompanied by immediate emergency funding. This is the result of a coordinated approach with our affiliate in Belarus.The EFJ will continue a close dialogue with BAJ in Minsk to ensure the best use of funds.”