RSF: Belarus among top five countries with journalists in jail

December 14, BPN. The number of imprisoned journalists worldwide rose year on year by 13.4 percent to 533 people, including 78 women, on December 1, says an annual report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Five countries account for over half of all imprisoned journalists, with China sitting top (110), followed by Myanmar (62), Iran (47), Vietnam (39), and Belarus (31). More recent data by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) shows that 32 Belarusian media workers are behind bars.

“Dictatorial and authoritarian regimes are filling their prisons faster than ever by jailing journalists,” RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said.

Fifty-seven reporters lost their lives while performing professional duties in 2022, the RSF report said, blaming Russia’s war on Ukraine for the 18.8 increase.