Belarus frees jailed journalist in sanctions deal

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 March 2026 |  JP Global Monitoring

Belarus released journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva and pardoned 250 prisoners after talks with the US; the action followed an agreement easing financial-sector sanctions and lifting remaining potash export restrictions. Press groups warn many journalists remain jailed.

Summary

MINSK — Belarusian authorities have released journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva as part of a broader agreement with the United States that includes easing sanctions on the country’s financial sector and lifting remaining restrictions on potash exports.

The release came Thursday alongside the pardon of 250 prisoners by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, following a meeting in Minsk with U.S. Special Envoy John Coale. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Andreyeva was among 15 individuals transferred to Lithuania without passports, while the remaining 235 were freed.

Journalist freed after years of imprisonment

Andreyeva, a correspondent for Poland-based broadcaster Belsat TV, had been imprisoned since November 2020 after covering anti-government protests in Minsk. In February 2021, she was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of organizing actions that allegedly violated public order.

Her legal situation worsened in July 2022, when a Belarusian court convicted her of treason and extended her sentence by eight years. Press freedom groups have consistently condemned the charges as politically motivated and linked to her reporting.

Pressure remains despite releases

While CPJ welcomed her release, the organization stressed that many journalists remain imprisoned in Belarus. As of its latest prison census in December 2025, Belarus ranked as the world’s fifth-worst jailer of journalists, with at least 25 media workers behind bars, including Andreyeva’s husband, Ihar Ilyash.

Recent developments suggest that repression continues despite periodic releases. In March 2026 alone, four journalists were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 14 years, underscoring ongoing risks for independent reporting in the country.

Between 2024 and 2025, at least 15 journalists were released before completing their sentences, but advocacy groups say these moves have not translated into systemic improvements in press freedom conditions.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The use of diplomatic negotiations to secure journalists’ release highlights the growing role of international pressure in press freedom cases. For Pakistani media, it underscores the importance of global advocacy networks and diplomatic channels in protecting journalists, particularly in restrictive environments. It also illustrates how geopolitical considerations can directly influence media freedoms.

ATTRIBUTION: Information cited from a publicly available statement issued by the Committee to Protect Journalists (March 19, 2026).

PHOTO: Journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva (Photo: AP/Circulated by CPJ)