Statement from the Euroradio editorial team in support of editor-in-chief Kazartsev

European Radio for Belarus condemns the campaign of harassment targeting our editor-in-chief, Yauhen Kazartsau (also known as Eugeniy Kazartsev). Ill-wishers are manipulating facts and spreading disinformation in an attempt to discredit both Kazartsau and Euroradio, with the aim of undermining the work of our independent, pro-democracy Belarusian media outlet that also supports Ukraine in the context of regional security. At the same time, our staff — like many Belarusians living in exile — continue to face pressure from the Belarusian security services.

In 2025, we chose not to disclose the identity of Euroradio’s new editor-in-chief for security reasons. Under the current conditions of repression in Belarus, this is common practice: the identities of the editors-in-chief of several other major Belarusian independent media outlets are also not public. However, Kazartsau was deanonymised by individuals who describe themselves as democratic activists.

They have been spreading these false claims across every platform available to them. Their fabrications about Yauhen Kazartsau even formed the basis of a publication on the website of the Myrotvorets centre. However, it quickly became clear that the “information” they had been given could not withstand even basic scrutiny.

As a result, the page about Kazartsau was removed from the Myrotvorets website and is no longer accessible. We are grateful to our Ukrainian colleagues for correcting the mistake.

European Radio for Belarus was founded 20 years ago. During that time, we have endured searches and detentions, bans and website blockings, endless accusations of being “bought” (apparently by every conceivable side at one point or another), and repeated waves of hate. But in every instance, the editorial team has stood by colleagues who came under attack.

We maintain that, in hiring Yauhen Kazartsau as a correspondent in 2020, we made the right decision. At the time, following the fraudulent presidential election, the mass protests, and the violent crackdown by the Belarusian authorities, many journalists were leaving state propaganda outlets for independent, pro-democracy media. We were fully aware of his previous work at Sputnik Belarus — he never concealed it. Nevertheless, we believed that what mattered was where he stood then, and where he would stand going forward. It was a deliberate decision.

And it was the right one. Today, under Yauhen Kazartsau’s leadership, European Radio for Belarus continues to provide Belarusians with truthful, objective reporting that, we believe, helps bring democratic change to Belarus. This is difficult work carried out every day — work that the Lukashenko regime deeply dislikes. The fact that there are people who, whether out of conspiracy thinking, genuine misunderstanding, or at someone else’s behest, seek to undermine our work only underscores its importance.

Zmicer Novikau
Chairman of the Board of European Radio for Belarus

Pavel Sviardlou
Editor-in-Chief of European Radio for Belarus (April 2018 – April 2025)

Maryia Kalesnikava
Editor, European Radio for Belarus

Zmicer Lukashuk
Editor, European Radio for Belarus

On behalf of the entire Euroradio editorial team.