The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Belarus jails journalist Pavel Sheremet over his reporting for Russian television station ORT

BelarusRSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

In 1997, Belarusian authorities under President Alexander Lukashenko jailed journalist Pavel Sheremet for three months in connection with his reporting for the Russian television station ORT. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the same authorities also banned Sheremet from reporting at one point and forbade him from traveling to the West for a year.1

What happened

Pavel Sheremet worked as a bureau chief for the Russian television station ORT, whose coverage was often critical of authorities, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. He had earlier edited the independent newspaper Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta in his native Belarus. In 1997, Belarusian authorities jailed Sheremet for three months in connection with his reporting for ORT. The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom organization, said the same authorities also banned Sheremet from reporting at one point and forbade him from traveling to the West for a year. In 1998, the organization named Sheremet a CPJ International Press Freedom awardee; for weeks, he and CPJ pressed authorities in Belarus for an exit visa, without which he could not leave Minsk to travel to the award ceremony in the United States. Belarusian authorities later stripped Sheremet of his citizenship in 2010.1234567

What reason was given

Stated justification

The Committee to Protect Journalists said Sheremet's imprisonment came over investigative journalism he had done for the Russian television channel ORT.4

What changed for reporting

Belarusian authorities banned Sheremet from reporting at one point and forbade him from traveling to the West for a year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.235

Timeline

1997

1997
Belarus jails journalist Pavel Sheremet over his reporting for Russian television station ORT

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Alexander LukashenkoenforcedPresident of Belarus

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
ORToutletaffected

Sources

  1. Remembering Pavel Sheremet, IPFA honoree, friend to CPJ, and hard-nosed journalistCommittee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07, reporting. Source record
  2. Journalist killed in Ukraine car bombingCommittee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. CPJ reported that in 1997, Belarusian authorities jailed Sheremet for three months in connection with his reporting, and stripped him of his citizenship in 2010.In 1997, Belarussian authorities jailed him for three months in connection to his reporting, and stripped him of his citizenship in 2010.Journalist killed in Ukraine car bombing, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 765, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. Sheremet worked as a bureau chief for the Russian television station ORT, which was often critical of authorities.He had also worked as a bureau chief for the now defunct Russian television station ORT, which was often critical of authorities.Journalist killed in Ukraine car bombing, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 766, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. Sheremet was originally from Belarus, where he had edited the independent newspaper Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta.Sheremet was originally from Belarus, where he edited independent newspaper Belarusskaya Delovaya GazetaJournalist killed in Ukraine car bombing, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 767, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. CPJ said the same Belarusian authorities had imprisoned Sheremet over investigative journalism he had done for the Russian television channel ORT.the same authorities who had imprisoned him for two months in retaliation for some of the tough investigative journalism he did for the Russian television channel ORT.Remembering Pavel Sheremet, IPFA honoree, friend to CPJ, and hard-nosed journalist, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 768, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. CPJ said the same Belarusian authorities also banned Sheremet from reporting at one point and forbade him from traveling to the West for a year.The same authorities, as CPJ documented at the time, also banned him from reporting at one point, and even forbade him to travel to the West for a year.Remembering Pavel Sheremet, IPFA honoree, friend to CPJ, and hard-nosed journalist, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 769, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. Pavel Sheremet was named a CPJ International Press Freedom awardee in 1998.Pavel Sheremet, who died yesterday when a bomb blew up the car he was driving in Kiev, was a CPJ International Press Freedom awardee in 1998.Remembering Pavel Sheremet, IPFA honoree, friend to CPJ, and hard-nosed journalist, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 770, checked 2026-09-26.
  7. For weeks, Sheremet and CPJ pressed authorities in Belarus for an exit visa, without which he could not leave Minsk to travel to the United States for the award ceremony.For weeks, he and CPJ had badgered authorities in his native Belarus for an exit visa, without which he could not leave Minsk to travel to the U.S.Remembering Pavel Sheremet, IPFA honoree, friend to CPJ, and hard-nosed journalist, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016-07.Claim 771, checked 2026-09-26.