Punishing speech turns silence into coercion
Pressure on journalists, human rights defenders and Belarusians abroad deprives society of the ability to see events and disagree without fear.
During the 2020 protests, independent journalists documented detentions and violence. Rather than protect their work, authorities detained reporters, stripped accreditation and blocked websites. The Belarusian Association of Journalists, cited by Human Rights Watch, recorded more than five hundred cases of harassment, detention, fines and short-term arrests of journalists from January to mid-November 2020.
The pressure did not end in 2020. The UN Human Rights Council described restrictions on expression, the closure of organisations, attacks on independent media and measures against Belarusians abroad. A 2023 decree restricted passport renewal through consulates. It affects people's ability to exercise ordinary rights even after leaving the country.
We condemn the use of laws and public services to punish dissent. Journalism, legal defence and human rights work are essential, particularly when those in power demand trust without scrutiny. Public criticism should be met with facts and answers, not a search, a cell or the denial of documents.