Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Press freedom is a mirror of what is really happening in society. In today’s Belarus, telling the truth is dangerous, and every journalistic piece carries not only professional responsibility but also personal risk. Belarusian journalists who do their work with integrity pay a high price for it: arrests, prison, forced exile.
And yet Belarusian media continue to grow and operate — in exile, under political persecution, and in unsafe working conditions, finding ways forward even where none seem to exist. Today, all independent media operate from abroad, yet around 80% of their audience remains inside Belarus. This highlights not only the professionalism of journalists, but also the strong demand among Belarusians for truthful, alternative information.
The regime is trying to destroy this truth through censorship, blocking, and intimidation. But truth finds a way. A way through independent Belarusian journalism.
Today, I want to thank all journalists — those in prison, in exile, and inside the country who continue to work. Truth is the greatest threat to the regime and the greatest value for the people”.
