This analytical note was prepared on the basis of materials
available on the website https://covidmonitor.by//

Access to information is a human right enshrined in both the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, article 19 of which establishes “freedom to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas of all kinds”. The pandemic has shown how important it is for information to be freely shared and serve as the basis for decision-making by governments and citizens. Never has access to information been more important than when making important decisions that will affect lives, livelihoods and rights.

In Belarus, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the right of citizens to access
information was constantly violated. We are talking about the lack of access
to full and comprehensive official information, the purposeful restriction of
journalists’ access to information, the selective application of legislation on
media liability for the dissemination of false information and pressure on
journalists.