Flanders has announced a donation of €100,000 to the Council of Europe to support Belarusian journalists living in exile. The funding aims to help these journalists continue their work in
promoting objective reporting and combating disinformation.
The announcement coincided with a meeting in Brussels between Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The meeting was part of the Belarus Days, a European initiative that focuses on supporting democratic movements and human rights in Belarus.
The financial contribution from Flanders is part of the Council of Europe's Action Programme for 2024-2025. This program provides training and operational support to journalists forced into exile, with the goal of bolstering independent media.
"Free and independent media are crucial for safeguarding democratic values. Through this support, Flanders is standing by journalists who, despite immense pressure, continue to strive for fair and reliable reporting," Diependaele stated.
Flanders has long maintained a strong relationship with Belarus's democratic movement. The Flemish government has provided office space for the Belarusian opposition in Brussels and has supported organizations such as the International Strategic Action Network and the independent media outlet Reform.
The donation also comes ahead of Belarus's upcoming presidential elections on 26 January. Diependaele emphasized the importance of combating disinformation, noting its severe impact on democratic processes in Eastern Europe.
By contributing to this initiative, Flanders reaffirms its commitment to supporting press freedom and promoting democratic values in Belarus and beyond. Photo by Alex Zelenko, Wikimedia commons.