RSF Press Freedom Index ranks Belarus in bottom 15

May 2, Pozirk. Belarus ranks 166th of 180 assessed countries and territories in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The ranking placed Belarus between Cuba and Azerbaijan, stressing that the country continues a massive crackdown on independent media outlets and journalists. Last year, it was down 10 places in the RSF Index after being 157th in 2023.
Belarus is one of the 34 countries, along with Nicaragua, Iran, Myanmar, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, that stand out for the mass closures of their media outlets and exile of journalists in recent years, the RSF noted.
Access to independent information in Belarus is restricted due to “economic asphyxiation” of the media outlets operating from exile that are forced to carry out mass layoffs due to a lack of local revenue and US support, the analysis said.
Globally, press freedom is also threatened as the Index described the conditions for practicing journalism as “difficult” or “very serious” in over half of the world’s countries and satisfactory in fewer than one in four.
The world’s 10 best countries for journalists are Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
Russia, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, China, North Korea and Eritrea conclude the ranking with the worst press freedom score.
On the eve of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, at least 40 media workers are behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

Amnesty International: reprisals against media, civil society intensified in 2024
- PoliticsOver 8,900 face politically-motivated charges in Belarus since 2020 – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyRosatom eyes energy storage projects in Belarus, other CIS countriesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsExiled Belarusian pro-democracy parties plan joint office in VilniusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsOfficial calls for review of equipment export strategy amid tight competition in RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEDB links Belarus’ reserve growth to gold price surgeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja to address socialist congressThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPartyzanka: Poland removes deadline for asylum consideration until March 4The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyInvestigation sheds light on military-patriotic clubs’ agendaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietySuspected contraband balloons disrupt Vilnius Airport, affecting 6,000 passengersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka, Rahmon discuss ties in birthday callThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsProtesters demand Germany punish former regime wardenThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInternational deals to be signed during sultan’s visit to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s France visit announcedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityZelensky addresses Russian gas shortages, mentions BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityUkrainian justice ministry initiates sanctions against HomsielmašThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka: Kamvol is in debt and not operatingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja: Europe must be united to protect democracyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders call for investigative group on Belarus crimesThe material is available only to POZIRK+