Fourteen organisations call for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist and human rights defender Andrei Aliaksandrau

Index on Censorship and 13 other human rights, freedom of expression, media freedom, and journalists’ organisations unreservedly condemn the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of human rights defender and journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau, who is now facing up to 15 years in prison on baseless charges of “treason to the state”. Read our joint statement.

Former editor Jo Glanville talks about working with Andrei Aliaksandrau

Andrei was a key part of Index’s team in London from 2012 to 2014, bringing his expertise, his insights and his great sense of irony to the publication’s coverage of Belarus and the region. He also embraced British culture, loving pubs and beer and Liverpool FC. Read what our former editor Jo Glanville has to say about Andrei and the charges he faces here. 

Myanmar keeps it poets locked up despite prisoner release

Relatives wait in front of Insein prison for the release of prisoners who were arrested since the February military coup. Photo: Santosh Krl / SOPA Images/Sipa USA/Alamy

Myanmar’s military authorities this week began to release more than 2,000 people who had been jailed as part of the protests against the country’s military coup in February. Those released included journalists, actors and other celebrities. However, the regime has been targeting the country's poets and some remain in prison despite the release, writes Mark Frary.