Belarus 157th in freedom of speech rating

The situation is getting worse in many post-Soviet countries, the document says. Belarus is in the 157^th position (close to Pakistan), Russia – 148^th, Ukraine – 126^th and Kazakhstan – 161^st.

Finland has preserved the first position in the rating and is followed by the Netherlands, liga.net reports. Our western neighbor Poland is in the 22^nd position.

The Press Freedom Index reflects the degree of the freedom of journalists and mass media in 180 states.  The previous report pointed at repressions directed against protesters, detentions of independent journalists, publishers of the magazine ARCHE and the Belsat team as well as one of the independent publishing houses losing its license in Belarus.   

Photo: BELTA