Association advises journalists to migrate from Telegram to safer messengers

September 24, Pozirk. After Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced changes to privacy policy, the exiled Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) has advised its members to switch to safer messenger applications.
“After yesterday’s announcement, none of us has any guarantees of safe Telegram correspondence,” BAJ deputy chairman Barys Harecki has told Pozirk.
“The confidentiality of data on Telegram depends on Pavel Durov’s private interests. This, of course, is a threat. Since Telegram has declared its willingness to cooperate with authorities, this cooperation may clearly include Belarus,” Harecki said.
He pointed to potential media rights violations, citing European and Belarusian laws protecting journalists’ sources.
“Collecting information or giving access to correspondence in general will grossly violate journalists’ rights,” he said.
The BAJ advised media to migrate to Signal or Slack.
These messengers may not be as convenient as Telegram but have better protections, the association said.
“If it is personal data, it is half the trouble, image and reputational losses. People’s safety is a different story, and it will be really sad,” Harecki said, speaking of the use of Telegram data by authorities for criminal prosecution of journalists.
At least 42 journalists are held in prison in Belarus, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Belarus cannot afford war-capable army – Łukašenka
- Politics, SecurityRussia urges Warsaw to cancel Belarus border closureThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyFoundation raises €50,000 for prisoners released todayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland to deploy 40,000 troops to borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEight people declared political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsUS Treasury Department permits certain transactions with BiełavijaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus slams Poland and Latvia for restricting air trafficThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsList of prisoners released todayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja urges release of all political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka accuses Poland of overreacting like savages to drone incursionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka accepts credentials from Slovak ambassador, seven othersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityLithuania's top diplomat sees no reason for easing sanctions against MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPolish diplomat links border closure to Polish monk's arrest in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader blames Minsk for allowing drone incursion into PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLatvia joins Poland in restricting flights over eastern borders ahead of Zapad-2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk officials rush to clear traffic ahead of Polish border closureThe material is available only to POZIRK+