On February 6, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Warsaw with the editors-in-chief of independent Belarusian media outlets to discuss the conditions independent journalism faces today.
Key topics of the discussion included:
- the resilience of Belarusian media in informing Belarusians and reaching millions inside Belarus despite blocking, “extremist” lists, and threats;
- the challenges faced by media in exile, including in Warsaw;
- ways to strengthen support for independent journalists.
The parties separately discussed international aid for independent media.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The regime is trying to seize the entire media space and force Belarusians to live in lies, depriving them of access to truthful information. But independent Belarusian media have endured. They have resumed their work after repression and shutdowns and continue to speak with and for Belarusians even in the most difficult conditions, under pressure, threats, and blockings.
We must do everything possible to ensure that journalists are protected, that their imprisoned colleagues are released, and that the truth about Belarus does not disappear from the information space”.
