Flanders donates 100,000 euros to support Belarusian journalists in exile
Flanders is donating 100,000 euros to the Council of Europe to help Belarusian journalists in exile to continue their work on objective reporting and the fight against disinformation.
Flemish minister president Matthias Diependaele met Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Brussels on Thursday as part of the Belarus Days, a European initiative to highlight democratic movements and human rights in Belarus.
Flanders is contributing to the Council of Europe's Action Programme 2024-2025, which provides training and operational support to journalists in exile. The aim is to strengthen independent media.
"A free and independent media is essential for the protection of democratic values. With this support, Flanders is helping journalists who, under great pressure, continue to work for fair and reliable reporting," said Diependaele.
"A free and independent media is essential for the protection of democratic values"
Flanders has had close relations with the Belarusian democratic movement for years. The Flemish government has provided the opposition with office space in Brussels and supported organisations such as the International Strategic Action Network and the independent media Reform.
Belarus will hold presidential elections on 26 January. "These initiatives are in line with the need to combat disinformation, a phenomenon that has serious consequences for democratic processes in Eastern Europe," said Diependaele.
#FlandersNewsService | Belarusian activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya holds a picture of her husband, who is being held captive in Russia, during an event in Antwerp, May 2024 © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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