"Reporters Without Borders: Belarus Is Country Most Dangerous In Europe For Journalists

Our country has fallen to 158th place in the Press Freedom Index.

Belarus' position in the annual "Press Freedom Index," drawn up by Reporters without Borders, has got worse. The organization called the country the most dangerous in Europe for the work of journalists.

Belarus has fallen to 158th place in the ranking. Journalists in Belarus "are subjected to unprecedented repression for trying to cover up the mass street protests, which became a response to the disputed result of the presidential election," - the report says. Reporters Without Borders points out that cases of persecution of journalists in Belarus are increasing and the penalties are getting tougher.

- Belarus is the most dangerous country in Europe for media workers. Journalists and bloggers who criticize the authorities are subjected to threats, violence, as well as arrests. There are cases of disabling the Internet, blocking leading news sites. Print media are censored and access to information is restricted. After the questionable presidential election in August 2020, several independent media outlets have been subjected to persecution by law enforcement bodies as they try to prevent coverage of mass street protests," - the report on the country says.

Index compilers also document the deterioration of people's access to information and the growing obstacles to news coverage in the world in general. Journalism, which is probably the best vaccine against the virus of disinformation, is completely blocked or severely complicated in 73 countries and restricted in 59 others, which together represent 73% of the 180 countries assessed, the ranking authors said.

Norway is in first place in the ranking for the fifth year in a row, despite the fact that local media have pointed to the lack of access to official information from government agencies about the pandemic. Finland retained its position in second place, while Sweden regained its third place in the ranking, which it had previously lost to Denmark.

Only 12 of the 180 countries in the Index provide favorable environment for journalists. Last year, there were 13 such countries. Germany used to be one of them, but not anymore, because dozens of journalists were "attacked by supporters of extremists and conspiracy theorists during protests against the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Nevertheless, the situation in Germany was labeled "pretty good," just like in the U.S.

China remained among the countries with the worst media conditions (177th place), as it "continues to bring censorship, surveillance and propaganda on the Internet to unprecedented levels". Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea come next. The organization points out that these countries keep absolute control over all news and information.