On the occasion of the Day of Solidarity with Belarus dedicated to free media, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with representatives of independent media and channels. They discussed the work of journalists, bloggers, media representatives in the current situation.
The participants of the meeting spoke in detail about the challenges of working with the Belarusian agenda, when editorial offices have to work underground in Belarus or remotely from other countries, with some members of their teams imprisoned. Nevertheless, everyone admitted that the initial shock is over, and many projects are already demonstrating growth and gaining an audience.
They also discussed the desired support for media at the political level, potential advertising from large companies that have withdrawn advertising from state channels, as well as media accreditation in foreign countries needed for full-fledged and safe work.
The media representatives thanked Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for supporting their work and calling Belarusians to write letters to political prisoners. The politzek.me initiative classified jailed media representatives into a separate group https://politzek.me/friends?speciality=media – you can write them a letter right now.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked journalists, editors, and media managers for their work and pledged to convey their demands at meetings with international political partners and businesses.
- How international partners supported the Day of Solidarity with Belarus Free Media?
On the Day of Solidarity with Belarus, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok, the Foreign Ministries of Lithuania, Norway, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, US Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya, Vice President of the European Parliament Dita Charanzová, EU Foreign Policy Representative Peter Stano, US Special Envoy for Belarus Julie Fischer, Polish Ambassador Artur Michalski, Ambassadors for Human Rights of Great Britain, Lithuania, Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden, Estonia, Luxembourg, as well as US Senators, MEPs, and many others pledged their support for Belarusian media and the peaceful protest of Belarusians.
Media and human rights organizations, such as the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the International Press Institute, Article19, IFEX, Dignity, the Italian Federation for Human Rights, called to support the Belarusian media. The Center for the Belarusian Solidarity in Warsaw and the Belarusian Youth Hub also joined the actions. The Warsaw metro placed large banners in support of the people of Belarus, and the Latvian Foreign Ministry illuminated its building in white-red-white colors.
