Disputed by the authorities in August 2021, the organization was reconstituted abroad. Twenty-four journalists are still incarcerated in Belarus and at least 300 were forced to exile.
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The organization chaired by Andreï Bastunes no longer exists in the country where she defended for more than twenty-five years independent media and the freedom to inform. Despite the exile imposed by the Minsk regime, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) is trying to continue its mission in a climate increased by the aggression led by Russia against Ukraine, with the support of Belarus. Dissolved by the authorities in August 2021, the organization was to receive, Monday, May 2, the Guillermo-Cano prize for UNESCO for press freedom in the world.
“It is both moral and material support that allows us to continue fighting for Belarusian journalists in exile, those who have remained there despite the danger and all our fellow citizens locked in this vast concentration camp What has become of Belarus, “said Batsunes in the world, from a secret place.
After a few years of relative relaxation, Belarusian journalists have suffered the full force of the violent repression orchestrated by the regime of Alexandre Loukachenko against all the structures of civil society. Following the fraudulent re -election of the autocrat in 2020 and the protest movement which she sparked, hundreds of them were imprisoned. Some journalists have been tortured or seriously injured by security forces. To date, 27 journalists or employees of Belarusian independent media, including a majority of women, are still imprisoned.
network of informants
continuous repression. On April 20, the editor -in -chief of the independent newspaper Novy Tchas, Oksana Kolb, was arrested and is still in detention. “Among our imprisoned colleagues, there are some who are still waiting for their trials. Others have been targeted by new accusations as they approach their release dates. The regime is simply trying to definitively delete any independent information in the country “Summarizes Andreï Batsunes. Number of publications or Telegram channels have been classified “extremists” by power. The authors of the content they disseminate are exposed to prosecution, as well as their readers. As for the independent paper press, it has practically disappeared.
At least 300 journalists were forced to exile, according to the figures for reporters without borders. They try to structure a virtual media space to which the Belarusses who have remained in the country can only access by diverting the digital censorship set up by the regime. “It should not be believed that all independent journalists have left the country, specifies Mr. Batsunes. Nothing would be possible without those who still work on the spot despite the danger and in an anonymous manner and which allow the editors installed abroad of Knowing and analyzing what is really going on in the country. “Exiled journalists can also count on a large network of informants and local sources who support them at their risk in their coverage of the country’s news.
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