Thanks to brave local journalists, the outside world still knows what is going on. Knowledgeable colleagues in Hungary, Poland and Belarus who usually help me when I am there have gone out and filmed and interviewed me. In this way, I have been able to report on the situation there, even though I have stuck to the editorial staff.

Detained journalists

However, in some places it is tougher than others. My Belarusian colleague Ilja Kuzniatsou went out on the town in Minsk and did work on the growing repression against the opposition, despite several of his colleagues being arrested and imprisoned for reporting on the ongoing election campaign.

Freelance journalist Alena Dubovik and photographer Ales Barazenka, who were on assignment for the TV station Belsat, were arrested when they reported on an election meeting organized by the opposition presidential candidate in the city of Babruysk.

Their camera equipment, recorded material and phones were confiscated, and another journalist, Ales Asiptsov, was sentenced to ten days in prison for participating in an illegal demonstration, an incident he was reported to report to the independent Belapan news site. He has launched a hunger strike in protest of the verdict.

Bloggers exposed

Freelancers and bloggers are the worst offenders and many have been sentenced to imprisonment for up to 25 days and high fines. Most are charged with illegal production and distribution of media products.

In recent days, the repression has increased further. When I ask my colleague Ilja Kuzniatsou in Minsk if it really is not too dangerous to help me film he sends a crying smiley and writes: No, I have reported on what is happening for 26 years, why would I quit now? I love my job. It should be added that Ilja has so far retained his permission to monitor the election campaign.