2021 Free Media Awards recognise Belarusian Independent Media
Articles
2021 Free Media Awards recognise Belarusian Independent Media
Five Belarusian journalists and media institutions have been awarded Fritt Ord’s Free Media Awards for 2021. The awards recognise the courageous and crucial work of independent Belarusian media amidst the on-going unprecedented crackdown.
Published: August 12, 2021Author: Human Rights House Foundation
Over the past year, the Belarusian authorities sought to eliminate the country’s independent media as it sought to crack down on dissenting voices. This year’s Free Media Awards are so important to highlight how severe the situation has become, as well as to honour the brave journalists risking their security and lives to tell the world what is happening in Belarus. Without them accountability would not be possible.
Human Rights House Foundation congratulates 2021 Free Media Award winners TUT.BY, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Katsiaryna Barysevich (TUT.BY), Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova (Belsat) & Natallja Lubnewskaya (Nasha Niva) for well-deserved recognition!
Media Under Attack in Belarus
Watch the full recording of the webinar “Media Under Attack in Belarus”, hosted on the sidelines of the 47th session of the Human Rights Council. Webinar organised by Human Rights House Foundation, Pen America, and the Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the UN in Geneva.
HRHF and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee nominated TUT.BY for its coverage of the 9 August 2020 presidential election and subsequent protests. TUT.BY was blocked in May 2021 and 13 employees were imprisoned as part of #Belarus authorities crackdown on critical voices.
On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation argued that Anar Mammadli’s detention should be understood as a direct reprisal for his legitimate election observation efforts and human rights work, and comes in the context of a dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.
On 10 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, welcoming the release of Nariman Dzhelal, repeating calls for the release of Server Mustafayev, and raising concerns about the situation for forced transfers of Ukrainian civilians within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and to the Russian Federation.
On 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, inspired by the Russian authoritarian-style “foreign agent” legislation. HRHF and partners from Human Rights House Tbilisi have developed this briefer underlining the main concerns regarding the practical effect of the foreign influence law on the Georgian civil society organisations and lays out recommendations for Georgia’s human rights and democracy partners internationally.