Lukašenka: Journalists in Belarus are jailed for fighting the state for Western money

March, 20, BPN. Journalism enjoys more freedom in Belarus compared to the West or Japan, Aliaksandr Lukašenka told Japan’s TBS. The interview was recorded on March 17. Belarus 1 broadcast its edited version on March 19.

TV anchor Shigenori Kanehira asked how Lukašenka assessed the role of journalism and whether there was freedom of speech and press in Belarus.

“The role of journalism is very important: it should be truthful, it should get the facts, and present them instead of engaging in propaganda,” Lukašenka said. “The journalism in Belarus enjoys more freedom compared to the US, the West, and maybe even Japan.”

The interviewer asked again: “Did you say Belarusian journalists are freer than Japanese journalists?” “Much freer,'” Lukašenka replied.

Answering the question as to whether Belarusian journalists are jailed because of their activities, Lukašenka replied: “They are jailed not because of their professional activities, but because they fight against their own state using US and Western money.”

“However, I don’t remember if any of the journalists have been punished or imprisoned lately. Once there were times when we let them go, they got paid from German, Polish, and US funds and fought against their own state by breaking the law. Those who break the law, should be held accountable under the law, no matter where, here or in Japan. We learned from you,” he said.

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, 27 media workers remain behind bars, including BelaPAN editor-in-chief Iryna Leŭšyna, former BelaPAN director Zmicier Navažylaŭ, and media manager Andrej Aliaksandraŭ.