{"id":195226,"date":"2026-07-10T16:39:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/195226\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T16:39:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:39:09","slug":"belarus-has-one-of-europes-most-repressive-media-environments-report-says","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/195226\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus has one of Europe\u2019s most repressive media environments, report says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (United Transitional Cabinet) <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 10, Pozirk.<\/strong> The media regulatory system of Belarus plays a structural role in creating one of Europe\u2019s most repressive environments for journalism, says a report<\/a> published by the Council of Europe\u2019s Safety of Journalists Platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry as Belarus\u2019 media regulator lacks any independence and wields extensive legal and technical powers under direct government control, says the report, titled \u201c<\/em>Structural Use of the Media Regulatory System to Suppress Journalism<\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Media Law forms the core of Belarus\u2019 restrictive media legislation, the Platform says. It enables the information ministry to suspend or shut down outlets, block websites without judicial oversight and impose burdensome registration and accreditation requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus\u2019 Law on the Prevention of Extremism empowers the interior ministry to designate media outlets as \u201cextremist formations,\u201d the report says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of 2025, dozens of media outlets had been designated as \u201cextremist formations\u201d, and several media representatives were reported imprisoned under charges including participation in \u201cextremist formations,\u201d the report says. The Belarusian Association of Journalists itself was dissolved and labelled an \u201cextremist formation\u201d, with its materials and symbols being classified as \u201cextremist,\u201d the report says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry has blocked more than 10,000 websites, including more than 5,000 \u201cextremist\u201d websites, without court authorization, including nearly all independent and foreign media, the Platform says, adding that the information space in Belarus is dominated by state-owned and loyalist media as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report notes that at least 400 journalists and media workers have fled Belarus since 2020, while those remaining face constant risk of arrest, surveillance or violence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report was drawn up by the Justice for Journalists Foundation, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the European and International Federations of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the International Press Institute, PEN International, and the IFEX network.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

July 10, Pozirk. The media regulatory system of Belarus plays a structural role in creating one of Europe\u2019s most repressive environments for journalism, says a report published by the Council of Europe\u2019s Safety of Journalists Platform.  The information ministry as Belarus\u2019 media regulator lacks any independence and wields extensive legal and technical powers under direct government control, says […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":193167,"template":"","rubric":[16,15],"class_list":["post-195226","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-politics","rubric-society"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBelarus has one of Europe\u2019s most repressive media environments, report says | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"July 10, Pozirk. The media regulatory system of Belarus plays a structural role in creating one of Europe\u2019s most repressive environments for\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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