December 10, 2024 - Belarus, Minsk

Volha Radzivonava sentenced to 4 years in prison for “insulting the president” and “discrediting Belarus.” Arrested in March 2024, Volha, a freelancer for KYKY.org and other outlets, has been detained in harsh conditions, including undergoing a forced psychiatric evaluation.

This absurd sentence is part of the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Belarus since the 2020 protests against Lukashenko, which is intensifying ahead of next months' presidential election.

Women Press Freedom condemns the continued persecution of journalists and demands Volha’s immediate release. We denounce the repression of press in Belarus and urge the international community to apply pressure of Belarusian government that continues to harass, abuse and sentence dissenters of any kind.