Belarus: CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the Belarusian Association of Journalists against state shutdown

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September 1, 2021- The Supreme Court ruled to dissolve the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) on August 27 after closing a complaint filed by the Ministry of Justice. In the verdict, the court stated the arguments provided by the BAJ representative were not satisfactory. The decision maintained that the defence misunderstood the law. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The BAJ is an independent organization operating since 1995 and has gathered over 1300 members from the media sphere. The organization has earned an international reputation for its commitment to uphold press freedom. 

The court verdict asserts that the lease agreements for the organizations' Gomel and Molodechno branches had expired. However, the BAJ representative refuted this claim in the appeal and presented legal documents to prove otherwise. On August 23, Valentina Kulik, the supreme court judge, rejected the appeal filed by the BAJ. The Ministry of Justice had alleged in its complaint that the organization failed to provide the lease documents for three of its regional offices. 

The Ministry of Justice initiated a large-scale investigation against BAJ activities on July 9. Authorities raided the BAJ offices on July 14 in absence of the organization’s representatives. Authorities then sealed the offices and froze all BAJ bank accounts. A day after the raid, the Ministry of Justice issued a  written warning to BAJ. Security forces had earlier raided the BAJ offices on February 18, during which equipment was confiscated by the authorities. 

Andrei Bastunets, the chairman of the BAJ, shared in a statement, “The BAJ is not an entry in the register of legal entries. It is an organization of almost one and a half thousand members united by a mission to expand freedom of speech.” He further emphasized the BAJ will find a legal way to continue its operations irrespective of the court’s decision.  

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with The Belarusian Association of Journalists and demands the state authorities stop targeting the free press in the country. The CFWIJ has created a detailed report containing the threats and violations against women journalists committed in recent months.