Belarus Bans German News Channel Deutsche Welle, Sparking Condemnation from Germany

Belarusian authorities have declared the Belarusian service of German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle an "extremist" organization and banned all its activities in the country. This means that anyone working with Deutsche Welle producing content for the Belarusian service faces up to seven years in prison, and anyone who reads and reposts Deutsche Welle articles can be found guilty of an administrative or criminal offense.

The director general of Deutsche Welle, Peter Limbourg, criticized the decision, stating that the accusations are "unfounded and do not correspond to the real work of their Belarusian editorial office." The move by Belarusian authorities has been condemned by Germany as an attempt to silence independent media and intimidate journalists.

Belarus has already designated 199 organizations as "extremist" as part of the government's efforts to suppress dissent in the country. Other media outlets targeted include the Belarusian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the independent Belarusian TV channel Belsat. The head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists described the situation with freedom of speech in Belarus as the worst in Europe, comparing it to a "European North Korea."

Why this matters: The crackdown on independent media in Belarus is part of a wider campaign by the authoritarian government of President Alexander Lukashenko to control the flow of information and suppress opposition voices. It raises serious concerns about the state of press freedom and human rights in the country.

The targeting of Deutsche Welle comes in the wake of mass protests in Belarus in 2020 following the disputed re-election of Lukashenko. Authorities have arrested over 35,000 people, with many prominent opposition figures being jailed or forced to flee the country. Currently, 36 journalists are behind bars in Belarus according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. Germany's foreign ministry stated that the ban on Deutsche Welle shows the Belarusian rulers "are trying to intimidate and silence journalists and the media."

Key Takeaways

• Belarus declared Deutsche Welle's Belarusian service "extremist", banning its activities.
• Belarusian authorities threatened up to 7 years in prison for working with DW.
• Germany condemned the move as an attempt to silence independent media.
• Belarus has designated 199 organizations as "extremist" to suppress dissent.
• Press freedom and human rights in Belarus are severely restricted under Lukashenko.