On this day, World Press Freedom Day, the United States Embassy honors all Belarusian journalists, who strive to bring truth and open debate to the people of Belarus under difficult conditions. The United States also commemorates and honors all members of the free press in Belarus who have been killed, unjustly jailed or otherwise punished in pursuit of the truth. We express our solidarity with them and their families.

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The Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Adrian Severin, issued the following statement today:

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The hearing of the cases of two journalists from an independent newspaper "Babruiski kur’er" detained on April 25 will continue on May 3 at 2.30 p.m. The edition`s editor-in-chief Anatol Sanatsenka is sure that the police wanted to prevent the journalists from participation in "Charnobylski Shliakh" in Minsk.

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Users should be able to read and say what they want onlineUsers should be able to read and say what they want online. The Internet allows people to write and read what anyone in the world has to say -- theoretically. The truth is that the enemies of the Internet keep it under control, says Julien Pain of Reporters Without Borders.

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