Belarus: Assault on Press Freedom Intensifies in Belarus with Ranak TV Journalists Detained, Colleague Disappearing Mysteriously
14 women journalists are currently behind bars in the country.
Location: Belarus, Svetlahorsk
Date: December 7, 2023
Belarusian authorities arrested two former journalists with Ranak TV, Yulia Dauletava and Liudmila Andzenka, while their colleague Alena Shcherbin is missing. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned about the targeted repression against journalists associated with the Ranak media company. In June, nine employees at the local media outlet were arrested and detained following their coverage of an explosion in Svetlahorsk. We demand an end to the harassment of Ranak TV journalists, immediate answers from Belarusian police about the location of Shcherbin, and the release of Dauletava and Andzenka.
On December 7, 2023, Belarusian authorities arrested two former employees of Ranak TV in Svetlahorsk. Yulia Dauletava, the former editor-in-chief, and reporter Liudmila Andzenka were taken into custody and are currently held in connection with a criminal case under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code related to "assistance to extremist activity."
The whereabouts of a third journalist, Alena Shcherbin, a former director at Ranak TV, remain unknown.
State authorities have also reportedly contacted the families of those detained, demanding access to their homes under the threat of involving the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The threat of involving the Ministry could be a tactic to intimidate or pressure the families. It suggests that the state is considering a broader involvement, extending beyond law enforcement, to deal with the perceived seriousness of the situation.
This recent attack on Ranak TV journalists follows a pattern of state harassment against the Svetlahorsk media company. In August, Yulia Dauletava was briefly detained, forced to record a video repenting for her "errors," and released the same day. On June 9, 2023, nine employees of the outlet were arrested and detained, facing trials for the "distribution of extremist materials." Ranak TV was then declared extremist by the state and forced to close.
The authorities’ targeting of the news outlet is seemingly linked to Ranak TV's coverage of a tragic incident on June 7, 2023, when a "gas-air mixture" explosion at Svetlahorsk Central Control Commission claimed the lives of three workers. After the local media outlet's comprehensive coverage of the accident, Belarusian authorities detained its journalists, reflecting a discomfort with independent information and an attempt to control the narrative surrounding the event. According to Reporters Without Borders, Ranak TV did not take an overly critical stance against Lukashenko’s administration, but its coverage of this one incident was enough to trigger an extensive crackdown.
Maryna Hrayushava, head of the Department of Ideological Work, Culture, and Youth Affairs of the Svetlahorsk District Executive Committee, allegedly initiated the attack on Ranak TV. Reportedly, she questioned the loyalty of the TV channel employees to the state, asking whether they were "with us or not?" following their coverage of the explosion.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is continuously appalled by the oppressive treatment of journalists and media workers in Belarus. The Lukashenko-led government has enacted anti-press laws and continues to arbitrarily detain and imprison journalists for doing their jobs. Following the 2020 presidential election, the state has enacted a major clampdown on voices of dissent.
Fourteen women journalists are currently behind bars in the country, many serving astonishingly harsh sentences. TUT.by journalists Maryna Zolatava and Lyudmila Chekina were each sentenced to 12 years in prison in March 2023. Katsiaryna Andreyeva, who documented an anti-Lukashenko protest in November 2020, received a 10-year and three-month prison sentence, while her colleague Ksenia Lutskina is currently serving an eight-year sentence.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply troubled and unequivocally condemns the recent actions of the Belarusian authorities against Ranak TV journalists. The arrest of Yulia Dauletava and Liudmila Andzenka, along with the distressing disappearance of Alena Shcherbin, is not only a blatant violation of press freedom but also a worrying indication of the state's continued oppression and silencing of independent voices in Belarus.
The targeting of Ranak TV demonstrates a clear attempt by the Belarusian government to control and manipulate the media narrative. We stand in solidarity with the detained journalists and their families. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Yulia Dauletava and Liudmila Andzenka. Additionally, we call upon the Belarusian authorities to provide immediate information regarding the whereabouts and well-being of Alena Shcherbin.
We urge the international community to join us in condemning these oppressive acts. The Belarusian government must be held accountable for its actions, and firm steps should be taken to ensure the safety and freedom of journalists in the country. The right to free and independent journalism is fundamental to any democracy, and we stand committed to defending this right in Belarus.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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