Belarus down 10 places in RSF’s press freedom ranking

May 3, Pozirk. Belarus ranks 167th of 180 assessed countries and territories in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The ranking placed Belarus between Saudi Arabia and Cuba, reflecting worsening conditions for journalists in the country which fell 10 places from the last year.
“Censorship of media outlets falsely accused of undermining national security or terrorism” is widespread both in Belarus and Russia ranking 162nd, the RSF noted.
The world’s 10 best countries for press freedom are Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany.
Egypt, Myanmar, China, Bahrain, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea conclude the ranking with the worst press freedom score.
On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, at least 43 media workers were behind bars in Belarus, according to the RSF.
The Belarusian authorities have changed laws to give a legal veneer to attacks on press freedom. The justice system, under complete government control, has begun equating independent journalism with extremism, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Most independent media outlets and the BAJ have been officially declared extremist.
RSF urges Europe to increase support for Belarus free media
- PoliticsŁukašenka plans to visit AlgeriaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityISW: Russia, Belarus threaten Europe by suggesting they may deploy OreshnikThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsMinsk restricts Lithuanian trucks to checkpoints closed by VilniusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands 26 as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka eyes "grand bargain" with Washington based on his interestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk hints it may keep border crossings to Lithuania, Poland closedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka accuses Poland of violating a deal on Poczobut's releaseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityZelensky: Russia's Oreshnik missiles in Belarus to threaten EuropeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka claims journalist Pratasievič was a Minsk spy during arrest in 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SocietyFour workers injured in explosion at Biełaruskalij’s shopThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Economy
- Economy, Politics, SecurityLithuania recovers three balloons after Vilnius Airport emergency closureThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus ranks low on Rule of Law IndexThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityThree Belarusians among 1,292 deserters listed by UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMigrant activity at Belarus-EU border jumps 43 percent year on year in OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Online censorship, disclosure of sentencesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyVilnius Airport suspends operations for three hours over balloon incursionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+



