December 18, Pozirk. Belarusian journalist and former designated political prisoner Alaksandar Mancevič has been awarded the Hope for Freedom Prize, established by Lithuanian MP Kazys Starkevičius and the journalistic community.
The award belongs to all Belarusian journalists, including those currently held behind bars, he said in the acceptance speech.
“For some time, I was held behind barbed wire, yet I felt solidarity and support from our colleagues,” Mancevič said. “Colleagues from Belarus and across Europe, especially from Lithuania, knew about our fate. I want to thank Mr Starkevičius and his family, the Lithuanian journalistic community and Lithuanian politicians for their solidarity, both symbolic and practical, during this difficult period.”
Mancevič, known as Rehijanalnaja Hazieta’s editor in chief, was pardoned on September 11 and taken to Lithuania. In Belarus, he had been serving a four-year prison term on charges of discrediting the state.
Rehijanalnaja Hazieta was the leading independent newspaper based in the Minsk region’s Maładziečna from 1995 to 2021 that covered developments in seven districts of the Minsk and Hrodna regions.
In 2020, the newspaper covered postelection protests and police brutality against protesters in the region. It was closed in a crackdown on protests, while its website and social media were labelled extremist content in Belarus.
At least 28 media workers are held behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
Authorities in Belarus continue equating criticism, solidarity, advocacy, the free media and free expression to extremism and terrorism.
