Free Media Awards
2021
The Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ) - Hviterussland
The Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ) is receiving the Free Media Award 2021 for its prolonged and indefatigable efforts to promote and protect the rights of journalists.
Along with Reporters Without Borders and other organisations, since August 2020, BAJ has documented the protests in Belarus, publishing news about violations of freedom of the press and attacks on journalists. In response to this work, BAJ itself has been persecuted by the authorities and threatened with closure. BAJ has been an important source of support for journalists, and a significant source of information for international media. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee nominated the organisation.