Journalist convicted on bogus charges of harming Belarus' reputation, inciting hatred, and alleged affiliation with an "extremist formation”

Location: Belarus, Brest
Date: June 3, 2024

Women Press Freedom firmly stands in solidarity with Alena Timashchuk, who received a 5-year prison term on allegations of damaging Belarus' image, inciting hatred, and purported involvement in an "extremist formation." We strongly denounce the unjust and severe sentence designed to stifle media freedom and manipulate information. We express profound concern regarding the Belarusian authorities' adoption of legal changes to justify attacks on press freedom. The justice system, fully influenced by the government, now equates independent journalism with "extremism," carrying a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. The majority of independent media organizations and the BAJ have been formally labeled as "extremist.” We call for Timashchuk's prompt release and full exoneration.

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On June 3, 2024, the Brest Regional Court sentenced journalist Alena Timashchuk to 5 years in prison, Women Press Freedom reports. Timashchuk was accused of tarnishing Belarus' reputation, inciting hatred, and alleged involvement in an "extremist formation.” In addition to the prison sentence, Tymoshchuk was fined 46,000 rubles. There are currently ten women journalists behind bars in Belarus. 

Timashchuk did not report on politics during her tenure with independent publications. Instead, she primarily contributed advertising pieces and articles on psychology, utilizing her expertise in the field. 

The Belarusian media has faced unprecedented repression by the authorities since the contentious reelection of Alexander Lukashenko as head of state. In a bid to silence independent journalists, the authorities have employed state-sponsored terrorism, encompassing censorship, violence, mass arrests, coordinated raids on homes and media offices, and the dissolution of the Association of Belarusian Journalists (BAJ).

Women Press Freedom has been closely monitoring and documenting the media landscape in Belarus. We express profound concern regarding the deteriorating state of press freedom in the country. Ten women journalists are currently behind bars, facing astonishingly harsh sentences. Notably, TUT.by journalists Maryna Zolatava and Lyudmila Chekina received 12-year prison sentences in March 2023. Katsiaryna Andreyeva, who documented an anti-Lukashenko protest in November 2020, received a 10-year and three-month prison sentence, while her colleague Ksenia Lutskina is serving an eight-year sentence.

Women Press Freedom stands in unwavering solidarity with Alena Timashchuk. We vehemently condemn the unjust and severe sentence imposed on her, crafted to suppress media freedom and distort information. We demand Timashchuk's immediate release and complete exoneration. Press freedom is essential for upholding democracy, ensuring transparency, and safeguarding human rights. It plays a crucial role in holding those in power accountable and providing the public with unbiased and accurate information. The unjust targeting of journalists like Alena Timashchuk threatens the core values of a free and democratic society.

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