The International Federation of Journalists cordially invites you to attend:

11 Years of Media Repression:
What Next for Belarus Journalism?

To be held as part of the The Belarus Forum: a Discussion of Belarus Politics, Economics and Media hosted by the Belarus Caucus of the European Parliament

Monday, October 16
16.30.—20.00
European Parliament, room ASP 3G2
rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels

Speakers will include:
Zhanna Litvina – Chair of the Belarus Association of Journalists
Dmitry Novikau –  European Radio for Belarus
Oliver Money-Kyrle –  International Federation of Journalists

After eleven years of rule the Lukashenko government is on the verge of eradicating all meaningful independent journalism in Belarus. During this time it has bullied, fined and imprisoned critical journalists. It has introduced a series of legal measures to make it increasingly difficult to openly criticise government. At the beginning of the year non-state media were banned from the national printing press and distribution systems, an effective monopoly in the country, forcing several papers such as the Narodnya Volya to print and distribute sporadically from Russia.

If anything the pressure has intensified since Lukashenko’s re-election for a third successive term. The Nasha Niva, the Belarusian cultural daily, celebrated its centenary this summer by being forced through a series of administrative measures to go underground. Today, most non-state media have now been forced to give up printing and to move solely to Internet operations.

During the meeting the IFJ and Belarusian Association of Journalists will launch a special appeal to the authorities to re-open the investigation into the murder of investigative journalist Vieranika Charkasava.

Friday, 20th October is the second anniversary of her murder. Since then the authorities investigation involved six months attempting to pin the murder on her fifteen year old son and elderly stepfather. Having failed to build a credible case against either the authorities closed the investigation and then prosecuted and convicted her son for forgery.

The IFJ and BAJ report Getting Away With Murder documents the case and launches an appeal to the Belarus government not to let the crime go unpunished.


The Belarus Forum is being hosted by the Belarus Caucus in the European Parliament. To see their full invitation, click here.

For further information, or to let us know that you will attend, contact:
Rachel Cohen
Communications Officer
International Federation of Journalists
TEL: 32 2 235 22 07
[email protected]

Please respond by October 10 to ensure that your name is put on the guest list.