December 26, Pozirk. Authorities designated 35 media outlets as extremist groups in 2024, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said in a report.
The year was notable for “covert reprisals,” in which security forces intimidated their victims, warning against making any details of persecution public.
The BAJ documented 66 searches of journalists and newsrooms during the year. Twenty-seven media professionals were arrested, and the number of media workers behind bars reached 45. More than 100 instances of indirect pressure were documented.
Systemic reprisals against independent media have been ongoing since 2020. Many editorial offices work in exile. In the run-up to January’s election, authorities have stepped up pressure on journalists in the country and abroad.
A week ago, the interior ministry designated the Pozirk news agency as an extremist group.
