Belarus: Six Journalists Released in Historic Wave of Pardons — But Repression Continues

Last updated: 22 September 2026

During the night of March 19 to 20, 2026, six Belarusian media professionals were pardoned and released from prison alongside nearly 250 political prisoners as part of a diplomatic agreement negotiated between the United States and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomed the releases but issued a strong warning: repression of journalists in Belarus is far from over, and the remaining imprisoned media workers must not be forgotten.

The Six Journalists Released

Among those freed is Katsiaryna Andreyeva (also known as Bakhvalava), one of Belarus's most prominent imprisoned journalists. She was arrested in November 2020 while livestreaming a protest for Belsat TV and was subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison following two separate trials. She was immediately expelled to Lithuania upon her release. Also released were blogger Eduard Palchys; freelance journalist Aleh Suprunyuk; Dzmitry Navazhylau, former director of the news agency BelaPAN; media analyst Valeryia Kastsiuhova; and Belsat TV cameraman Ales Marchanka.

The latest release is the fourth major wave of political prisoner releases in Belarus in the past year, each linked to diplomatic negotiations rather than any genuine liberalisation of political conditions inside the country. RSF notes that the pattern of releasing prisoners in batches as diplomatic bargaining chips reflects the deeply political nature of their original detention.

While we celebrate these releases, we must be clear: these journalists should never have been imprisoned in the first place. Their imprisonment was unlawful, their trials were politically motivated, and the repression that put them behind bars has not ended. Dozens of journalists remain imprisoned in Belarus today.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), March 20, 2026

The Ongoing Crisis

Belarus remains one of the world's most repressive environments for journalism. According to RSF, dozens of journalists and media workers are still imprisoned following the wave of repression that began after the disputed August 2020 presidential election. Independent media have been systematically dismantled: newspapers closed, websites blocked, and editors, reporters, and support staff prosecuted under sweeping laws criminalising criticism of the government and security forces. RSF is calling on the international community to maintain pressure on Lukashenko for the release of all remaining journalists and political prisoners.

Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)