Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko have kept their place on the “predators of press freedom” list published by watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Putin and Lukashenko have been on the list since RSF began compiling it 20 years ago. A total of 37 heads of state have been identified as predators in 2021 for massively cracking down on press freedom.
Since Putin took office, at least 37 reporters have been killed. During protests in support of Putin’s jailed opponent, Alexei Navalny, police actively flouted press freedom.
The “foreign agents” law, which has applied to all media outlets since 2017, forced some journalists to label themselves as “foreign agents” and caused major financial problems for independent publications, such as Meduza.
Lukashenko has subjected journalists to an unprecedented level of persecution since his disputed reelection in August 2020. Arrests of journalists, violence and torture of protesters, internet shutdowns and censorship of leading news websites have been widespread.
The leader of an EU country also made the predators list. Since taking office as Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban and the ruling Fidesz — Hungarian Civil Alliance party have gradually taken control over national media and blacklisted journalists.
Close to half of the names on the RSF’s 2021 list are making their first appearance, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who ordered the assassination of his critic, journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
