UNESCO is awarding its press freedom prize to the Belarusian Association of Journalists BAJ this year.
The association keeps independent media alive despite the massive pressure from the Belarusian government of ruler Alexander Lukashenko, the UN organization justified its decision on Wednesday.
Despite massive allegations of fraud, Lukashenko was declared the winner after the 2020 presidential election.
This sparked unprecedented mass protests, which were brutally put down by the security forces.
Since then, the authorities have taken massive action against activists and journalists.
More than a thousand political prisoners are currently being held.
"By awarding BAJ the award, we stand with all journalists around the world who criticize, oppose and expose authoritarian politicians and regimes," said Alfred Lela, chair of the international award jury.
Awarded to a group instead of an individual for the first time
The BAJ was founded in 1995, shortly after Lukashenko came to power in 1994.
The aim was to put pressure on the authorities to maintain freedom of the press.
The association has 1300 members.
In 2021, the authorities ordered its dissolution.
"This is a tribute to all independent Belarusian journalists who have continued to work in the past two years despite all the pressure, publication bans and arrests," said BAJ Chairman Andrei Bazunez.
For the first time in its 25-year history, the award was given to a group rather than an individual.
The Unesco/Guillermo Cano prize, which will be presented in Uruguay on May 2, is named after the Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano, who was murdered in Bogotá in 1986.