Index on Censorship: Belarus Increases Global Lead In Persecution Of Journalists

Such conclusions can be made even on the basis of incomplete data.

The human rights organization Index on Censorship has prepared a "Map of Media Freedom," in which threats to freedom of the press in various countries of the world, including Belarus, have been placed on record.

According to the organization's report, a total of 92 violations were registered in Belarus during 2017, including the detention of 101 journalists. In total, 30 journalists were accused.

The greatest number of detentions occurred on Freedom Day on March 25, 2017, when 36 journalists were taken into custody, including Filip Warwick, Andrei Dubinin, Valer Shchukin, Katsiaryna Bakhvalava. The journalists also stated that they had been beaten by the police during the arrest.

Journalist Filip Warwick from the United Kingdom said that he was denied the right to contact his embassy. A search was conducted in the apartment of journalist Maryna Kastsialianchanka, who works with human rights organizations. Later, she was imprisoned for 15 days for disobedience to the police and participation in unauthorized mass events.

During the year, journalists were fined 69 times for violating Article 22.9 of the Belarusian Code on Administrative Offenses (the illegal production and / or distribution of media content).

At the end of the report it is noted that all the figures given set forth only the cases of violations verified by the organization. Although Belarus has fewer reports of violations than France and Italy over the reporting period, our country is one of the most regulated for media in Europe and has a rather low "Press Freedom Index" in the Reporters Without Borders report – 156 out of 180.