The OSCE Informal Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists called to provide asylum and support to independent journalists forced to flee from Russia and Belarus
On 13 March 2023, at the Human Dimension Supplementary Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) the representative of the Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the International Organisations in Vienna, speaking on behalf of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists, called on countries to provide refuge and support to independent journalists and other media representatives forced to flee persecution and war.
“Governments has taken various measures to facilitate relocation and a safe environment to enable media outlets, journalists and other media workers to continue their journalistic work in exile”, stressed Laima Birštunaitė speaking on behalf of the group of friends. Journalists and their family members are issued humanitarian visas, also are facilitated in receiving residence and work permits. Furthermore, members of the group support various initiatives and programmes implemented by the NGOs that provide journalists and other media actors with safe housing, emergency funds, equipment, training, as well as legal and other assistance.
Many states host journalists and other media actors fleeing persecution in Russian Federation and Belarus. Independent media outlets such as iStories, Meduza, Novaya Gazeta Europe, OVD Info, Mediazona, Newsader, TV Rain have also had to relocate their journalistic activities to other countries.
The statement delivered on behalf of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists, composed of 16 participating States (Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States), can be read here.
