Press freedom remains a cherished right for all democracies, whether they are nascent or fully fledged ones. In Draconian societies, like modern-day Belarus, it still has not been achieved, and in many instances, systematically thwarted by cruel and autocratic paranoia. The regime of Alexander Lukashenska, a strongman since 1994, has taken its cues—and increased dependence—from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Hanna Liubakova, a Belarusian journalist, researcher, and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, who had been forced to flee her country for raising concerns about Lukashenka’s strongman grip on his government, routinely speaks out at international conferences and forums on the essential need for uniform press freedom.

In its annual World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Russia and Belarus 172nd and 165th place, respectively, out of a total of 180 countries and territories analyzed by the organization. 48 journalists and media workers remain detained in Russia and 21 in Belarus, as reported by TVPWorld.  

“It is important to speak about transnational repression because, first of all, authoritarian regimes are growing,” said Liubakova in April. “There are more and more people who are facing this threat—the threat of transnational repression—in the democratic world. So, that is why there would be more pressure on democratic countries, because more people are coming and also because of authoritarianism being on the rise and threatening democracies.” 

Transnational repression occurs when foreign governments reach across national borders to “silence, threaten, or harass dissidents, journalists, and diaspora members,” as defined by Freedom House. “Perpetrators use tactics ranging from digital surveillance and family intimidation to physical violence, unlawful deportations, and assassinations.”

“Belarus is now a node in a wider authoritarian supply chain,” Liubakova tells me. “Belarusian defense firms are incorporating Chinese components into optics used by Russian tanks, as Chinese and Belarusian troops held joint drills near NATO’s borders in July 2024.”

Months before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Lukashenka regime launched what many political observers deemed as “hybrid warfare” against Poland and two Baltic States, Lithuania and Latvia. At the time, Belarus opened its borders, allowing over 4,000 migrants from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen to seek entry into these countries.

“For many years, Lukashenka’s dictatorial regime and independent media existed parallel to each other. We were allowed to work, but at the same........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)