On 13 December 2024, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) and Press Club Belarus jointly organised a seminar on the role of Belarusian independent media in fostering a resilient and democratising society. Being the only source of information for people in the country, Belarusian independent media need to be supported financially and involved in partnerships with western media to keep Belarus high on the international news agenda.

By taking part in the ‘Belarus Days’ initiative (9-13 December 2024), organised by the European External Action Service and the Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, the EESC demonstrated its unwavering commitment to a democratic Belarus that respects human rights and freedom of speech.

Opening the event, EESC President Oliver Röpke said: ‘Independent media are the backbone of a free and democratic society. Today, as part of Belarus Days, we reaffirm our solidarity with the Belarusian people and their courageous fight against disinformation and oppression’.

EED Executive Director Jerzy Pomianowski stressed: ‘The result of the election on 26 January is predetermined, and the regime will try to turn the page, try to legitimise itself in international affairs and whitewash the oppression. However, independent Belarusian media seem to be successful in engaging their audience’.

Hanna Liubakova, a freelance journalist in exile who was sentenced to 10 years in jail in absentia on four criminal charges, is thrilled by the Belarusian people’s motivation to stay informed and have access to independent media, highlighting that 50% of the traffic for Belarusian-run websites located outside the country comes from inside the country. She confirmed that up to 90% of the social media platform audience is inside Belarus. ‘Independent media in Belarus is the best antidote to Lukashenko’s and the Kremlin’s propaganda,’ she added.

Natalia Belikova, who works for Press Club Belarus said that the aim of the government’s new propaganda is to provide a new understanding of what elections are, so they are trying to unite people and encourage them to show their patriotism. ‘Such tactics are how they change the entire population’s perception about what democracy is,’ said Ms Belikova.

The seminar ended with the screening of the feature film Under the Grey Sky, inspired by the true story of Katsiaryna Andreyeva, a jailed Belarusian journalist, attended by the film’s director Mara Tamkovich. (mt)