Belarus: leaders of journalists’ organisations in Europe call on heads of governments to take action
Leaders of 50 journalists’ unions and associations in 34 European countries today called on their governments to intensify pressure and take action in the face of constant violations of human rights and press freedom in Belarus. In a joint letter, they urge their head of government to demand from the Belarusian authorities the immediate release of the 12 imprisoned journalists and the withdrawal of administrative and criminal proceedings against Belarusian journalists.
On the initiative of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its affiliate in Belarus, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), the leaders of 50 journalists’ organisations in 34 countries in Europe today sent a joint letter to European Heads of State and Government about the situation in Belarus, on a very symbolic day.
Thursday 25 March, known as Freedom Day, is an unofficial public holiday marking Belarus’ 1918 declaration of independence. This year, it is expected to be marked with nationwide protests. On 25 March activists around the world will hold protests outside Belarusian embassies and share messages of solidarity with peaceful protesters. BAJ has called for solidarity with Belarusians on this day.
The co-signatories of the EFJ-BAJ letter express their “deep concern about the intensification of repression in Belarus. (…) Today, there are over 250 political prisoners in the country, including 12 journalists. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Since the fraudulent presidential elections of 9 August 2020, more than 30,000 people (including 480 journalists) have been detained, with many of them subjected to torture and ill-treatment, and over 1,000 people targeted by criminal prosecution.”
The joint letter urges European Heads of State:
- to demand from the Belarusian authorities the immediate release of the 12 imprisoned journalists, the withdrawal of administrative and criminal proceedings against Belarusian journalists, and the reopening of the Minsk press club;
- to appeal to the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Union, so that the international community intensifies pressure and takes action in the face of constant violations of human rights and press freedom in Belarus.
“We welcome yesterday’s decision by the U.N. Human rights Council to set up a team of investigators to gather evidence about the excessive use of force and torture by authorities in Belarus during their post-election crackdown on peaceful protesters,” said EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregård. “But this is not enough. The repression continues and intensifies. The regime of the dictator Lukashenko must release all political prisoners without delay, including 12 journalists who have only done their job. It must also end all pending prosecutions. We will work with BAJ to ensure that all those responsible for the repression of journalists are prosecuted and convicted. It is high time for European governments and the international community to take action.”
Read the EFJ affiliates joint letter to European Heads of State and Government about the situation in Belarus: Joint letter Belarus – 25 March.
The EFJ and BAJ also called on European journalists to send letters to imprisoned journalists in Belarus. Here are their postal details:
- Katerina Borisevich, journalist TUT.BY – SIZO №8, 222160, Zhodzina, str. Savietskaya, 22a, Belarus.
- Katerina Bakhvalova (Andreeva), journalist of Belsat – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Daria Chultsova, journalist of Belsat – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Julia Slutskaya, the founder of the “Press Club” – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Sergei Olshevsky, director of the “Press Club” – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Alla Sharko, program director of the Press Club – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Piotr Slutsky, employee of the Press Club – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Ksenia Lutskina, former journalist of Belarus 2, member of the Coordinating Council – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Andrey Alexandrov, journalist and media manager – SIZO №1, 220030, Minsk, st. Volodarskogo, 2, Belarus.
- Denis Ivashin – Prison № 1. 230023, Grodna, st. Kirava, 1, Belarus.
- Yasep Palubiatka – address not yet fixed.
- Sergey Gordievich – under house arrest.
