{"id":168802,"date":"2025-12-18T18:16:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T15:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168802\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"journalist-mancevic-recieves-lithuanian-hope-for-freedom-prize","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168802\/","title":{"rendered":"Journalist Mancevi\u010d recieves Lithuanian Hope for Freedom Prize"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Alaksandar Mancevi\u010d \n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 18, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Belarusian journalist and former designated political prisoner Alaksandar Mancevi\u010d has been awarded the Hope for Freedom Prize, established by Lithuanian MP Kazys Starkevi\u010dius\u00a0and the journalistic community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The award belongs to all Belarusian journalists, including those currently held behind bars, he said in the acceptance speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor some time, I was held behind barbed wire, yet I felt solidarity and support from our colleagues,\u201d Mancevi\u010d said. \u201cColleagues from Belarus and across Europe, especially from Lithuania, knew about our fate. I want to thank Mr Starkevi\u010dius and his family, the Lithuanian journalistic community and Lithuanian politicians for their solidarity, both symbolic and practical, during this difficult period.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mancevi\u010d, known as Rehijanalnaja Hazieta<\/em>\u2019s editor in chief, was pardoned on September 11 and taken to Lithuania. In Belarus, he had been serving a four-year prison term on charges of discrediting the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rehijanalnaja Hazieta<\/em> was the leading independent newspaper based in the Minsk region\u2019s Ma\u0142adzie\u010dna from 1995 to 2021 that covered developments in seven districts of the Minsk and Hrodna regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, the newspaper covered postelection protests and police brutality against protesters in the region. It was closed in a crackdown on protests, while its website and social media were labelled extremist content in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 28 media workers are held behind bars in Belarus, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities in Belarus continue equating criticism, solidarity, advocacy, the free media and free expression to extremism and terrorism.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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