The European Union has voiced strong support for Euronews after Belarus's information ministry placed the broadcaster on its list of "extremist materials," a designation that restricts access to its website and exposes readers to potential administrative penalties. The EU's foreign affairs spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, described the move as part of a "broader pattern of repression targeting independent media," adding that "the EU shares its solidarity with Euronews."
The listing, which took effect immediately under Belarusian civil procedure rules, means that within the landlocked Eastern European country, the Euronews website is now blocked, and anyone storing or distributing its content could face fines or other sanctions. Euronews has warned that the decision risks criminalising its audience and cutting off access to factual journalism in a country where state media dominates the information space.
A familiar tactic
Belarus's action is not an isolated incident. Since 2020, Minsk has designated more than 60 media outlets as "extremist," according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The label, which is also used extensively in Russia, is deliberately vague and allows authorities to target outlets that challenge the official narrative. Euronews joins a list that already includes the Polish Press Agency and, in Russia, France 24 and the BBC.
Martin Roux from RSF's crisis desk said Belarus is following Moscow's playbook by using anti-terrorism legislation to criminalise journalism. "This defamatory label targets foreign media, including Euronews and, previously, the Polish Press Agency, that worry the regime because they cover a country closed off to any information sources contradicting the official narrative," he said. He noted that at least 20 media professionals remain in detention in Belarus.
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) also condemned the designation. Its president, Maja Sever, called the move an attempt to discredit and intimidate independent media, and suggested that the "extremist" label should be seen as a "badge of honour." She argued that the media targeted by such designations are precisely those defending the Belarusian people's right to free, pluralistic and independent information.
Solidarity from European leaders
The EU's condemnation was echoed by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who took to social media to express support for the people of Belarus. "Six years after people stood up for a new future, their voices have not been silenced," she wrote, adding that "Belarus will be free." Her comments came on the sixth anniversary of the disputed 2020 presidential election, which the EU and Western governments widely condemned as fraudulent.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also denounced the ban, describing it as a "shameful" attempt to curb press freedom. She has previously warned that such measures turn ordinary viewers into targets, a point that resonates as Minsk intensifies its crackdown on dissent.
The designation of Euronews is part of a broader climate of fear that has deepened since the 2020 election, according to Amnesty International. Marie Struthers, the organisation's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said the authorities have created a "suffocating climate of fear, silencing anything and anyone who challenges the government." Despite the release of some political prisoners over the past year, the European External Action Service (EEAS) estimates that around 800 people remain arbitrarily detained, many subjected to ill-treatment or torture and denied access to essential health services.
The EU's response underscores its commitment to press freedom, but also highlights the limits of its influence in Minsk. As Belarus tightens its grip on independent media, the bloc's solidarity with outlets like Euronews serves as a reminder that the fight for free information in Europe is far from over.
