Apr 7, 2021 · On April 2, Belarus’ parliament moved forward eight bills, including a raft of amendments to the country’s Mass Media Law and Mass Gatherings Law. If adopted, these amendments will further...

In the 2011 Freedom House Freedom of the Press report, Belarus scored 92 on a scale from 10 (most free) to 99 (least free), because the Lukashenko regime systematically curtails press freedom. This score placed Belarus 9th from the bottom of the 196 countries included in the report and earned the country a "Not Free" status. [ 3 ]

Nov 8, 2024 · This blog post explores the state of freedom of speech in Belarus, delving into the historical context, legal framework, and ongoing censorship practices that limit expression. It highlights how constitutional guarantees often clash with real-world applications and the broader implications for civil society.

Authorities used a wide variety or illegal surveillance methods and other forms of unlawful privacy violations to control dissent and free speech, and to monitor opposition groups, activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens.

The rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly remained severely curtailed. Religious minorities faced discrimination. The justice system was abused to suppress dissent.

5 days ago · Belarus’ opposition activists and Western officials have denounced an orchestrated election that extended the over three-decade rule of ... many of whom are imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenko’s unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech, ... marking “a bitter day for all those who long for freedom and democracy.” ...

6 days ago · Media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders filed a complaint against Lukashenko with the International Criminal Court over his crackdown on free speech that saw 397 journalists arrested since 2020. It said that 43 are in prison. Fears of vote-rigging. According to the Central Election Commission, there are 6.8 million eligible voters.

Belarus’s legislative restrictions on freedom of expression that are ostensibly designed to address ‘extremism.’ The specific focus of this report is on restrictions on expression that can be loosely defined as “hate speech.”1 Imposed under the chapeau of ‘extremism,’ such restrictions

Jan 24, 2025 · Amnesty International calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately end their vicious campaign of repression against any dissent, which denies the people of Belarus free speech in the run up to the presidential election scheduled for 26 January.

3 days ago · In a democratic society, elections must guarantee the free expression of will of all its members and plurality of views.Respect for the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association is critical to their democratic legitimacy. Regrettably, the authorities in Belarus have systematically and deliberately trampled on these universal principles, with the latest elections being no exception.