Belarus: KGB Bans Polish Correspondent Justyna Prus For 5 Years
PAP foreign correspondent barred from country without explanation given
Location: Belarus, Minsk
Date: June 30, 2023
KGB bans Justyna Prus from the country a day prior to President Alexander Lukashenko's signing of a new law allowing authorities to bar foreign correspondents. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by this latest mechanism to stifle the free press and people’s right to information. Since Lukashenka’s contested re-election in 2020, authorities have significantly intensified their efforts to suppress independent journalism. The ban on Prus is a dangerous development. We call on the international community to pressure Belarus in reversing the law, and we compel the government to immediately lift Prus' ban.
Belarusian border services handed PAP correspondent Justyna Prus a document on June 30 stating she is banned from the country for five years. No explicit reasons or appeal possibilities for the 5-year ban were given. The notification solely referenced the legal grounds for the presence of foreign nationals in Belarus.
The ban KGB imposed on Prus preceded President Alexander Lukashenko signing a law into force on July 1, allowing authorities to prohibit the work of journalists from countries involved in activities deemed “hostile toward Belarusian media.”
Prus’ work has been instrumental in shedding light on critical events in the country, such as the protests following the 2020 Belarusian presidential elections, informing the international community about human rights violations and political unrest.
Reporting from Belarus since 2016, Prus possesses valid accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk. This accreditation, issued by the Belarusian authorities themselves, acknowledges her as a professional journalist and grants her the right to report from within the country.
Unraveling the Media Landscape in Belarus
Belarus' media landscape has experienced unprecedented repression by the authorities since the contentious re-election of Alexandr Lukashenka as head of state in August 2020. Following protests disputing the results, authorities revoked the press accreditation of Reuters, The Associated Press, AFP, the BBC, the German and French public broadcasters ARD and RFI, the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and several others.
Violations against Belarusian and foreign press skyrocketed in 2020, with a multitude of journalists forced to leave the country. CFWIJ has documented 12 violations in 2023 thus far.
As CFWIJ has documented, the authorities have actively worked since on dismantling independent Belarusian media outlets, leading to the departure of numerous journalists from the country.
Presently, 35 Belarusian journalists remain in detention, facing various charges. The country ranks 4th globally on most imprisoned women journalists as documented by CFWIJ.
Actions taken against the most widely accessed news website, Tut.by, exemplify the crackdown. Not only was Tut.by stripped of its media status, but it was also subjected to blocking, raids, and searches. Furthermore, criminal proceedings were initiated against the platform, ultimately classifying it as "extremist" and de facto prohibition. Numerous independent media outlets have faced similar repercussions, prompting some to relocate operations abroad.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Justyna Prus and firmly objects to such blatant censorship. We urge the international community, human rights organizations, and governments to condemn Belarus' actions. Pressure must be exerted on the Belarusian authorities to reverse their decision, reinstate Prus' accreditation, and uphold the fundamental principles of press freedom. Journalists are essential for upholding democratic values, exposing human rights abuses, and holding governments accountable.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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