Carola Schneider, a correspondent for Austria's national broadcaster, was detained by the police along with her cameraman. The incident took place in Minsk on August 9. Police brought the pair to the station, though both Carola and her cameraman were released after some time. The CFWIJ condemns the ongoing crackdown against journalists and media organizations in the country. Violations and threats against women journalists working for the free press have become a routine pattern. CFWIJ calls on President Lukashenko's government to end the harassment of women journalists.

Journalist Inessa Studzinskaya, affiliated with Radio Svaboda, was restricted from leaving the country. Inessa discovered the travel ban against her after finding her name on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website. The radio journalist, along with two of her colleagues, was detained on July 26. According to reports, the authorities searched their homes and destroyed the network’s editorial offices in Minsk. CFWIJ condemns the persistent impediments to press freedom in the country. We have repeatedly demanded action to ensure a safe and fair environment for women journalists in Belarus.

Nasta Pilyugina, a blogger and host of the "dzigital" podcast, was detained in Minsk on the morning of July 29. She left her home around 11 a.m. and was carrying her laptop in her car. Sometime after her departure, she was presumably apprehended. The authorities searched her residence but shared no information regarding her location or where she was detained. CFWIJ condemns the unjustified detention of the blogger and demands the police release her. We continue to monitor the persecution of women journalists in Belarus.

Police raided the homes of at least 15 journalists, six of whom were women. The journalists’ laptops, phones and equipment were also confiscated. Continuing crackdown against independent news outlets in Belarus is sharply escalating. A new wave of mass raids jeopardizes the lives of journalists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) closely monitors the incidents in the country. We urge Lukashenko’s administration to end the oppression against journalists.

A former Tut.By employee and writer, Yulia Chernyavskaya is suffering serious health problems under house arrest. Yulia’s defense is now asking for leniency in her punishment to at least allow her hospital visits. Her counsel is ready to give a personal guarantee that she will not leave her home under any other circumstances. Yulia was put under house arrest more than two months ago.

Iryna Novik, a project editor for Hrodna.life, was detained by the Belarusian police over a photo she released. She posted a picture of a Ryanair plane with a logo of a Telegram channel banned in the country. The photo remained on the channel’s feed for five hours, though Iryna reports that when the error was noticed, the post was removed. She was detained for two days before she was released. CFWIJ condemns the unjustified crackdown on press freedom in the country. We stand in solidarity with Iryna and denounce the attack against the journalist.

Valeria Kostyugova, an independent analyst and editor of the Belarusian Yearbook, is in detention after authorities searched her residence on June 30. The case and charges against Valeria have yet to be confirmed. Her husband was eventually released, but she remains in custody at a detention center on Akrestsin Street. Reportedly, the raid on her apartment was carried out by KGB authorities (State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus). CFWIJ condemns the harassment against the journalist and demands state authorities release her from unwarranted detention. The impediments to the free press in Belarus are alarming. The current government must end its targeting of independent journalists and human rights activists.

Glafira Zhuk, a journalist associated with Narodnaya Volya, was released after 30 days in detention. During her detention, including two days in solitary confinement, she was not allowed to shower and only let outside once. The court convicted Glafira for a social media post she shared while covering a case. Judicial authorities deemed her a participant in the mass protest. Glafira had to spend her 20th birthday in prison at Akrestsin Street. The journalist revealed after her release that the cells were overcrowded and female prisoners were only allowed to walk for 20-30 min. CFWIJ condemns the unjustified detention of Glafira. We are dismayed by the journalism faculty’s expulsion of Glafira following her release.

Journalist Natallia Kazei was forced to leave Belarus for Germany with her family after she was threatened with a criminal case by her employer organization and state broadcaster ONT. Journalists at the ONT called a strike before the presidential elections following which they were threatened by state officials including new president Alexander Lukashenko. Several journalists have been called in for interrogation since and now face a possible criminal charge for speaking up against the unfair practices at the Belarusian state media.

Valyaryna Kustava, a poet and an anchor for Belarusian television left the country along with her toddler daughter amidst the threats to her safety. The journalist was facing two criminal cases against her in the ongoing persecution against dissents and critical journalists.

Volha Takarchuk runs a political blog on Youtube and has a following of 37,000 subscribers. Volha was accused of violating the rules of procedure and was put in solitary confinement. It is not clear what was that violation. She was arrested on the orders of the prosecutor of Pershamiaski district, in Minsk on May 23.

Belarusian journalist Maria Malevich’s apartment was raided by police Friday, June 4. She was not at home at the time of the raid. Maria had gone out of the city when the police arrived. Prior to the police raid, a district police officer visited the relatives of Maria’s husband, Sergei Satsyuk-Grabovsky, who also happens to be a journalist.

The situation of press freedoms in Belarus continues to deteriorate as journalists are subjected to detentions and state violence for covering the ongoing protests in the country. On May 14, law enforcement agencies detained TUT.BY reporter Liubou Kaspiarovich and sentenced her to 15 days in prison. On May 28, police forces detained a journalist for Narodnaya Volya, Hlafira Zhuk, and sentenced her to 30 days in prison.

Belsat TV programme host Arina Malinovskaya, who left Belarus due to possible persecution, was threatened with her relatives. Arina was called and threatened by the Belarusian authorities to return to the country. She was told that until her return, her relatives would be kept in detention. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is devastated by the state policies to intimidate journalists in the country. We demand the Belarusian authorities an immediate end to the outrageous crackdown on press freedom.

Massive crackdown against the independent news website Tut.by follows more detentions. Four journalists, two of them women, were detained in Minsk on May 25 and released in the evening. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of press freedom and safety of journalists. We demand Belarusian authorities to release journalists who remain behind bars for more than a week and end the intimidation against Tut.by.