OSCE Media Freedom Representative denounces continued persecution of Belarusian media professionals

VIENNA, 7 October 2022 — The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today strongly condemned the continued sentencing of journalists and media workers in Belarus, following the criminal conviction of former and current employees of independent news agency BelaPAN.

According to reports, on 6 October, a court in Minsk behind closed doors ruled to sentence BelaPAN’s editor-in-chief and director Iryna Leushyna to 4 years in prison, BelaPAN’s ex-director Dzmitry Navazhylau to 6 years in prison, and BelaPAN’s ex-deputy director Andrei Aliaksandrau to 14 years in prison. The authorities reportedly pressed multiple charges against the media workers, who have been in custody for over a year, including tax evasion, forming an extremist group, and state treason. In the same proceeding, the court also sentenced Andrei Aliaksandrau’s wife Iryna Zlobina to 9 years in prison.

“The sentencing of former and current employees of independent news agency BelaPAN is appalling and nothing short of a continued wide-scale persecution of independent voices in Belarus,” Ribeiro said. “The systematic practice of convicting media workers on grave charges, behind closed doors, and lack of transparency about relevant investigations defies credibility of judicial proceedings and just further implies a political motivation behind all such cases.”

“I reiterate my call on the authorities to put an immediate end to the crackdown on the press, release all imprisoned journalists, and confirm their obligations to freedom of expression and media freedom.”

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, more than 30 media workers remain behind bars, either awaiting trial or serving their sentences.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.