In Tallinn, Estonia, a recent report highlights the situation of an independent journalist in Belarus who has been detained on high treason charges. This development is part of a broader and ongoing crackdown on media freedoms and expression under the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, known for its authoritarian practices.

Danil Palianski, a journalist from Brest, was apprehended in September and continues to be held in custody. The Belarusian Association of Journalists indicates that at the age of 53, Palianski might face a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years if found guilty. Throughout his career, he contributed to various independent news organizations and is among a group of 34 journalists currently imprisoned in Belarus, either serving sentences or awaiting trial.

Andrei Bastunets, the head of the Belarusian journalists’ organization, expressed deep concern, stating that Belarus has become one of the most perilous places in Europe for journalists, where many are disappearing into the prison system without clear information about their fates.

As the country gears up for presidential elections next year — with Lukashenko aiming to extend his lengthy rule of over three decades by seeking a seventh term — authorities have escalated their suppression efforts. Bastunets remarked on the grim reality that most independent media have fled the nation, while the government seeks to eliminate the presence of any independent journalists within its borders.

The aftermath of Lukashenko’s 2020 re-election, which was widely criticized as fraudulent, triggered a harsh response to widespread protests. This crackdown resulted in the detention of over 65,000 citizens, with around 1,300 individuals currently recognized as political prisoners, according to the Viasna human rights organization. Among these prisoners is Ales Bialiatski, the founder of Viasna and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, further underscoring the dire state of human rights in the country.