RSF on journalist releases in Belarus: one-off pardons cannot replace justice

March 21, Pozirk. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomed the release of several Belarusian journalists among a large group of dissidents freed two days ago, but stressed that they should never have been imprisoned.
“We call for the immediate release of the 22 media professionals still detained in the country and reiterate that one-off pardons cannot replace justice,” said Jeanne Cavelier, head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.
Preliminary lists circulating among Belarusian independent media outlets and human rights activists indicate that six media workers were among the 250 prisoners freed on March 19 following Alaksandar Łukašenka’s talks with John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus.
The liberation of journalist Kaciaryna Bachvałava (Andrejeva), blogger Eduard Palčys, and analyst Valeryja Kaściuhova has been confirmed to date. Bachvałava and Palčys were taken to Lithuania, while Kaściuhova was reportedly allowed to remain in Belarus.
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by RSF, ranked Belarus 166th of 180 assessed countries and territories.
Association calls for more attention to Belarus as authorities step up persecution of journalists
- Politics, SocietyDemoted colonel appointed head of Homiel penal colony for womenThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus ranked second-lowest in EAEU for motor fuel prices in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMost free university slots for Russians unfilled againThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficial claims higher schools meet enrollment targetsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, Sport
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityEU countries report 531 attempts at irregular entry from Belarus in first 10 days of AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyForeign ministry issues alert over earthquake in ColombiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyEP president pays tribute to Milinkievič as lifelong champion of Belarusian democracyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyRussian trucks en route from Kaliningrad exclave held up in Belarus — reportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyProminent freestyle coach Kazieka dies aged 76The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLabor ministry plans to tie childcare benefits to recipients’ actual incomeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLatvia stops 15 undocumented foreigners in clandestine tunnel on Belarus’ borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader discusses support for independent media with diplomatsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPolice in Minsk region trained to suppress protestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietySweden entitles Belarusians to alien’s passportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka: Belarus can’t sell fertilizers at home or abroadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEstonian newspaper gets “extremist” label in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMilinkievič epitomized dignity and inspired many, Cichanoŭskaja saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy


