Germany will continue to support independent Belarusian media, Foreign Minister Baerbock says

February 9, BPN. Germany will continue to support independent Belarusian media, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on Twitter on the Day of Solidarity with Belarus on February 9.

The head of German diplomacy thanked the Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Cichanoŭskaja, her convicted colleague and Viktar Babaryka’s campaign manager Maryja Kaliesnikava, head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Paviel Latuška and “many others” for “relentless engagement and every-day courage in fighting for a free, democratic, safe and sovereign Belarus.” “You are not alone in this,” she assured.

“In Belarus, 33 journalists and media workers are behind bars, simply for doing their jobs. Critical reporting is not a crime. It is a prerequisite for democracy. All those unjustly imprisoned must be freed. Belarusian authorities try to silence independent media through searches of offices and homes, seizures of equipment, blocking of websites, labelling of media channels and organizations as ‘extremist.” They will fail. Germany will continue to support independent Belarusian media,” Baerbock stressed.