At the annual General Meeting of the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture (FNCC–CSN) in Montreal from June 9-11, 2025, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) jointly presented a powerful photo exhibition, “Prison des médias au cœur de l’Europe (Media Prison in the Centre of Europe)”.
The exhibit honoured the bravery and resilience of more than 40 Belarusian journalists currently serving lengthy prison sentences under the Lukashenko regime, punished for so-called “extremist activities,” “organizing mass riots” and even “treason” for simply doing their jobs.
This exhibition was not only tribute, but also a call to action. It urged the international media community to demand the release of journalists imprisoned for fulfilling their professional duty.
“JHR is proud to support independent Belarusian journalists in covering the truth,” said JHR Director of European Programs Janine De Vries at the exhibition during the closing ceremony of the General Meeting. “They continue to be harassed, intimidated and persecuted in an attempt to silence them. They won’t stop speaking the truth and JHR will support their professional work in exile. Right now, 40 journalists are behind bars in Belarus and we demand that the Belarusian authorities release all journalists from prison.”
Even journalists who have fled Belarus are not free from persecution. Many are convicted in absentia, have their property seized and see their families targeted by state harassment and prosecution.
In an interview with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), BAJ chairperson Andrei Bastunets expanded on the challenges facing Belarusian journalists in exile: “Even when they have left the country, Belarusian journalists cannot feel safe, because their rights are still restricted by the government in their country of origin. So they cannot sell their homes or cars in Belarus, since the authorities require their presence in the country for these transactions.
“Moreover, if the exiled journalists return to Belarus, they and BAJ members are threatened with arrest. Exiled journalists can not even renew their passports when these expire, since embassies have stopped issuing passports to citizens living abroad: this directly impacts all those who fled repression. Consequently, more and more Belarusians living abroad have expired passports. And authorities in the countries where they are exiled cannot always help these people to obtain official documents.”
Belarus ranks 166th out of 180 on the 2025 Press Freedom Index, reflecting an increasingly grim reality for independent media.
“Solidarity means a lot to Belarusian journalists nowadays,” added Bastunets. “The BAJ continues its Marathon of Solidarity with imprisoned Belarusian journalists and media workers. Since this initiative was launched in May 2023, the marathon has been supported 43 times in 26 countries, 35 cities and on almost all continents. The campaign has been supported by the IFJ, EFJ, IFEX, Reporters Without Borders, Global Affairs Canada, Journalists for Human Rights, and others.
“It would be extremely helpful if unions and journalists could help us arrange evacuation and temporary retreats for the families of imprisoned Belarusian journalists, especially their children. The BAJ would also welcome any other feasible support to amplify the voices of BAJ members and journalists in Belarus and in exile. This support would be deeply appreciated.”
