LONDON, 16 JULY 2021 – Today, on the Day of Belarus Women’s Solidarity, declared by Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Justice for Journalists Foundation and the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) call on to support female journalists who are currently imprisoned or facing constant persecution from the authorities.
The pressure exerted by the Belarusian authorities on the work of independent media and journalists in Belarus is unprecedented for the country. On 8 July, a new wave of repressions saw more journalists and human rights defenders searched and detained. Female media workers subjected to pressure included Nasha Niva chief accountant Volha Rakovich, Nasha Niva correspondent Natalya Lubneuskaya, bobr.by journalist Alesya Latsinskaya, freelance journalist Maryna Malchanava-Bushynskaya (Babruysk), Onliner journalist Nastassia Zanko, as well as Silnye Novosti (gomel.today) journalists Hanna Yakshtas, Yauhenia Kreschuk, Natalya Suslava, Ekatsiaryna Teliman, Hanna Strelchanka, Binokl’ magazine publisher Darya Garashchanka and photographer Volha Latyshava from Brest.
On this day, 16 July, more media workers were subjected to searches and pressure, among them the following female journalists cooperating with Belsat and Radio Svoboda [Radio Liberty] : Halina Abakunchyk, Khrystsina Charniauskaya, Hanna Haliota, Milana Kharytonava, Liubou Luniova, Maria Artsybashava and Inessa Studinskaya.
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), at least 27 media workers in Belarus are awaiting the trial in places of detention or under the house arrest, 16 of whom are women. Two journalists, Katsiaryna Bakhvalava (Andreyeva) and Darya Chultsova, have been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and are in a colony.
We believe that solidarity is the most powerful force, therefore we encourage everyone to write letters to imprisoned journalists. They need your support now more than ever. Please remember to enclose an envelope for the return letter. If you write a letter from abroad, please don’t forget to insert a stamp as well.
- Katsiaryna Bakhvalava (Andreyeva), Belsat journalist— Penal colony No. 4, 246035, Homieĺ, vulica Antoshkina 3
- Darya Chultsova, Belsat journalist — Penal colony No. 4, 246035, Homieĺ, vulica Antoshkina 3
- Yuliya Slutskaya, founder of the Press Club Belarus – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Ala Sharko, program director of the Press Club Belarus – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Kseniya Lutskina, former journalist of Belarus 2 – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Liudmila Chekina, TUT.by general director – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Maryna Zolatava, TUT.by editor-in-chief – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Volha Loika, TUT.by editor – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Alena Talkachova, TUT.by journalist – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Ala Lapatka, TUT.by chief engineer – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Mariya Novik, TUT.by deputy chief accountant – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Iryna Rybalka, TUT.by deputy director – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Darya Danilava, TAM.by manager, Rocket Data director – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Anzhela Asad, TUT.by chief accountant – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Volha Rakovich, Nasha Niva accountant – Center for Isolation of Offenders. 220089, Minsk, 1-y zavulak Akrescina 36
- Valeria Kastsiuhova, editor of the Belarusian Yearbook – Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 220030, Minsk, vulica Valadarskaha 2
- Katsiaryna Tkachenka, TUT.by lawyer – under house arrest (cannot receive correspondence)
- Iryna Kastsiuchenka, TUT.by former lawyer – under house arrest (cannot receive correspondence)
In 2020, the Justice for Journalists Foundation together with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) registered 1558 attacks on media workers in Belarus, 435 of which (21 physical attacks, 20 non-physical and 394 attacks via judicial or economic means) were attacks on female media workers. Since the beginning of 2021, we have recorded more than 100 attacks against Belarusian female media workers, over half of which constitute attacks via judicial or economic means.
More information about attacks on journalists, bloggers and media workers is available on JFJ Media Risk Map and in the Incidents Database.