Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear journalists, editors, and bloggers, on this World Press Freedom Day, I want to thank each and every one of you for the work that you do day and night, both in Belarus and beyond. You have not abandoned your work and continue to work for Belarusians in the country, covering their problems and telling the truth. Thank you for that!
Today, the so-called court handed down the verdict in the NEXTA case. And I am glad that Stsiapan Putsila and Yan Rudzik, who were sentenced in absentia to 20 and 19 years in prison, are safe. But right now, at least 33 journalists are in Belarusian prisons. Among them are Maryna Zolatova, Liudmila Chekina, Katsiaryna Andreyeva, Yahor Martsinovich, and Andzej Poczobut. They are all imprisoned simply for adhering to their principles and doing their job well. They stayed in the country despite knowing perfectly well what they were getting into and what they were sacrificing.
What we all have to do is to continue their work and be a voice for them. I believe the day will come when independent media will return to Belarus. And right now, each of us must do everything possible to bring that day closer”.
