The Informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists draws attention to worrisome situation of independent media in Belarus
On 4 November 2021 in Vienna, at the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists, composed of 16 participating States, including Lithuania, delivered a Joint Statement in commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists that was marked on 2 November.
The Informal Group of Friends has unequivocally condemned all attacks, reprisals and violence against all journalists and other media actors and payed tribute to all those who suffered attacks in the exercise of their duties.
In its statement, among other issues, states participating in this Group of Friends expressed a particular concern regarding the systematic and far-reaching crackdown against independent media in Belarus, including the forced landing of a “Ryanair” flight on 23 May 2021 with the apparent purpose of arresting an independent journalist, as well as violence and even torture of detained journalists, denial of timely legal or consular aid, forced testimonials of guilt, and other forms of intimidation and harassment. The urgent need to put the end of the climate of impunity in regard to violence against journalists and to fully investigate all the recent cases of violence by law enforcement against independent media actors in Belarus was stressed.
The statement delivered on behalf of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists can be read here.
