The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has voiced its stern condemnation following the recent sentencing of Belarusian freelance journalist Aleh Supruniuk to three years in prison by a local court. The alarming verdict underscores the ongoing suppression of press freedom in Belarus, where the government continues to wield extremism legislation against journalists and media entities.

Aleh Supruniuk, affiliated with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), faced charges for his involvement in what the government deems an "extremist group." He was accused of authoring no less than 43 articles for BAJ, which was branded as extremist by the authorities in early 2023. Supruniuk's arrest on December 12, 2024, followed a search of his residence in Brest, during which his computer and phone were confiscated. Initially held for 15 days, he was released only to be criminally charged shortly thereafter.

The broader context of Supruniuk's conviction is a relentless crackdown on independent media in Belarus. Notably, the BAJ and Brestskaya Gazeta, both declared “extremist,” now expose their members and affiliates to criminal prosecution under national laws. This pattern of repression has escalated since a controversial presidential election in 2020, leading to the incarceration of numerous journalists and driving hundreds into exile.

Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, remarked, “The sentencing of journalist Aleh Supruniuk to three years in prison, six months after he went missing in his hometown, is yet another example of the Belarusian authorities’ covert attacks of the press.”

Further illustrating the dire situation, other journalists like Yauhen Nikalayevich have been imprisoned for covering sensitive political events, such as the post-election protests of 2020. The Intex-Press news staff has faced arrests under similar pretexts. Exiled journalists continue to be pursued aggressively, with Belarus opening criminal cases in absentia, often seizing properties and harassing family members of the accused.

The Belarusian government defends these actions by citing the 2021 extremism laws and related amendments to the criminal code, effectively equating independent journalism with criminal acts. This stance has led international bodies like Reporters Without Borders to rank Belarus among the most suppressive environments globally for media professionals.

In light of these developments, CPJ has reiterated its call for the immediate release of Supruniuk and all journalists unjustly detained in Belarus. The organization urges Belarusian authorities to uphold freedom of expression and allow the independent press to operate free from intimidation and undue legal challenges.