In Belarus, the regime has forced the Belarus Association of Journalists to shut down.

Over the past two years, the organization has registered around 1,000 cases of assault, arbitrary arrest, detention and prosecution of journalists in Belarus.

"Currently, 24 journalists are in prison," said Aleh Aheyeu, deputy chairman of BAJ.

The situation for Belarusian journalists has always been difficult, he explains.

But in connection with the rigged elections in Belarus 2020, the situation became catastrophic.

- Only this interview I do with you can give two years in prison.

I am aware of what I am doing and what risks I am taking.

But I do it anyway, for the sake of freedom of speech, he says.

Underground resistance movement

Despite the difficulties, the organization's work continues at a distance from other countries, such as Lithuania and Poland.

The management of the organization today has its main location in Vilnius, Lithuania, and from their life in exile, the employees try in various ways to support and help their compatriots.

"It can be about helping them get medical care if they have been beaten or helping them replace damaged or confiscated work equipment or assist with legal aid," says Aleh Aheyeu, who is also a lawyer.

About 300 independent journalists have been forced to leave Belarus from August 2020 to October 2021, according to BAJ.

- But in connection with the pandemic, we have learned to work remotely and in this way we can continue to spread independent information to the Belarusians, says Aleh Aheyeu.

And although on the surface it may seem as if the protests have been crushed and silenced by Belarus' longtime dictator Alexander Lukashenko and his regime, Aleh Aheyeu assures that the opposition and the opposition are very much alive.

- It has only taken on new forms, and is more of an underground business today.

And our work to one day make Belarus a democratic country continues.

Aim headlights at Belarus

The fact that BAJ now receives Reporters Without Borders' press freedom award will hopefully lead to the spotlight being directed on what is going on in his home country, says Aleh Aheyeu.

The ongoing war in Ukraine is terrible and should rightly be noted, but the situation in Belarus must not be forgotten, he emphasizes.

- The problems in Belarus have not disappeared, and we think it is very important that Sweden and other countries also pay attention to what is happening in Belarus.

The journalists who are still in the country show evidence of great courage, says Aleh Aheyeu.

The press freedom prize was awarded at a ceremony at Kulturhuset in connection with the international press freedom day on Tuesday.

The prize is awarded annually to courageous and independent journalists who, through their work, have contributed to strengthening freedom of the press.