Irina Slavnikkova

journalist

Irina Slavnikkova is a Belarusian journalist and deputy chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). She gained international attention after being arrested in 2021 upon returning from Egypt, amid a crackdown on dissent in Belarus following the controversial presidential election of 2020. Slavnikkova, who worked for the Polish television channel TVP and was affiliated with the independent media outlet Belsat, faced multiple administrative charges related to her online presence and alleged involvement with 'extremist materials.' Her arrest and subsequent imprisonment became emblematic of the broader repression of journalists and political activists in Belarus, drawing significant media coverage and calls for her release. After spending over a year in detention, Slavnikkova was released in September 2025, and she has since been adapting to life in exile, where she continues to advocate for freedom of expression and support fellow political prisoners.