Belarus: Journalist Volha Radzivonava sentenced to four year jail term
On 10 December 2024, the judge of Minsk City Court, sentenced journalist Volha Radzivonava to four years of imprisonment for criminal defamation. The IFJ and EFJ support their affiliate, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) in condemning this blatant attack on free speech, as “another effort to silence independent journalism and restrict critical voices in Belarus.”
Volha Radzivonava worked for KYKY.org news portal and freelanced for other news outlets. She was arrested on 7 March 2024 for allegedly “discrediting the Republic of Belarus”, “incitement to racial, national, religious, or other social hostility or discord” and “defaming” and “insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus”. During her pretrial custody she was sent to a clinic for a psychiatric examination, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reports. BAJ is the only independent organisation of journalists and media workers in Belarus. It operates in exile.
The trial began on 16 November and the journalist was found guilty on 10 December. Although the specific reasons for the charges against Radzivonava are not clear, BAJ believes her prosecution is linked to her work as a journalist with both Belarusian and international media.
Alexander Lukashenka, Belarus’ president, has been in power since 1994 and is the most prolific journalists’ jailer in Europe, according to IFJ’s latest statistics.
IFJ and EFJ have been bringing attention to the issue for some time and will continue to do so until all journalists and media workers are released. On 10 December, International Human Rights Day, IFJ’s President, Dominique Pradalié sent a letter to the President of Belarus, the Head of the President’s Administration and the Minister of Foreign Affairs calling for the release of 36 imprisoned journalists now 45.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “Lukashenko’s regime has denied free speech and deprived journalists of their freedom for far too long. We urgently call for the release of our wrongfully imprisoned colleague and stand united with those who have been forced to flee their country, still living in fear even when they are abroad. The Belarusian authorities must cease their campaign of harassment and intimidation against journalists.”
EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez added: “The government is abusing the Belarusian anti-extremist law to conduct a witch hunt in the independent media sector. The eight journalists and media workers arrested last week, notably at Intex-Press in Baranavichy, bring to 45 the number of media workers in prison in Belarus. We demand their immediate release!”
