Belsat TV correspondent and former political prisoner of the Belarusian regime Daria Chultsova visited the NUJU

More than 30 Belarusian journalists are still serving prison sentences handed down by the Lukashenka regime in Belarus for their professional activities, stated former political prisoner and correspondent for Belsat TV, Daria Chultsova, while a round table discussion at the central office of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

“I served a minimum term of two years. Now 12-15-year sentences is normal in Belarus for journalistic work,” she said.

According to the correspondent, within a year or two criminal cases are opened against Belarusian journalists who have finished their work in 2020, and their children are sent to shelters. Therefore, independent Belarusian media workers are forced to go abroad.

Daria also paid attention to the fact that her colleagues in Ukraine face obstacles in their current work.

“Belsat journalists working in Ukraine have a problem with blocking their cards (bank cards – ed.). I do not understand why this problem is not being highlighted. These people work in the war zone, but the obstacles are created for them,” she emphasized.

The president of the NUJU, Sergiy Tomilenko, noted that such actions are unlikely to be directed against independent Belarusian journalists, but there are a requirement of national security. He proposed to create a working group on the Union basis to solve this issue.