BAJ head says pressure on Minsk may help jailed journalists

May 3, Pozirk. Raising the topic of Belarus at the international level, talking about jailed journalists and lobbying for pressure on authorities in Minsk may help overcome challenges that the Belarusian media sector is facing, said Andrej Bastuniec, head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).
This year, Belarus ranked 167th of 180 assessed countries and territories in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, turning into the worst ex-Soviet country for journalists after Turkmenistan, he noted.
On World Press Freedom Day, the BAJ head expressed solidarity with journalists in captivity at an event in Lithuania’s Vilnius with his Belarusian and Lithuanian colleagues participating.
Jailed journalists, like all people imprisoned in politically-motivated cases, face a lot of pressure and “enormous challenges” behind bars, he said. “We must remember them and provide all possible assistance [including] for their families.”
At least 43 media workers remain behind bars in Belarus, according to the RSF.
Belarus down 10 places in RSF’s press freedom ranking
- PoliticsBelarus accuses exiled writer Filipienka of calling for sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings plunge amid cold spellThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyHomiel plant employees voice grievances against managementThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- SocietyHIV incidence in Belarus drops by 11 percent in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTwo Belarusians charged in absentia in politically-motivated casesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk concerned over Cuba after Trump threatens tariffs over oil suppliesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ non-CIS goods trade deficit expands by 17.6 percent in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAuthorities brand 18 social media accounts “extremist”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyBelarus’ Jūrmala resort remains closed over opposition from LatviaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus’ trade with Kazakhstan reaches $1 billion - ŁukašenkaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus’ health resorts report 40-percent rise in export revenueThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBaltic border chiefs to discuss ways to counter balloon incursionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian ambassador meets with Venezuela’s deputy foreign minister for EuropeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Security
- Politics, SecurityNo attempted irregular crossings from Belarus into Lithuania, Poland for long timeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAlaksiej Hrachoŭski named opposition cabinet’s deputy representative for youth and student affairsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMechanized brigade calls up reserve officers, soldiers for trainingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Society



