RFE/RL’s Belarus Service journalist Anna Sous has been named 2019 Journalist of the Year by the Belarusian Human Rights Alliance, a coalition of independent human rights organizations.
A veteran journalist, Sous was honored for years of reporting on topics such as the defense of Kurapaty, a place of mass executions during the Stalin repressions; a series of stories and a book about cancer-survivors; and the problem of domestic violence in Belarus. She is also known for her 2016 project “Russia and Me,” an extensive series of televised interviews with former Soviet leaders about their relationship with Russia during their time in office and their views on Russian foreign policy.
Accepting the award, Sous said, “The recognition of the Belarusian human rights community is very important to me, especially as a journalist who has been researching social, sensitive, and image-oriented topics for more than 20 years. Remarkably, it is the first time in Belarus such an award has been given to a journalist who works not in Belarus, but abroad. This is an honor for me and important for the image of RFE/RL in Belarus and journalistic standards in the region.”
Belarus Service journalist Aleh Hruzdizlovich is a previous recipient of the award.
RFE/RL's Belarus Service, established in 1954, reports in one of Europe's most restrictive societies, defying the government's virtual monopoly on domestic broadcast media with unique livestreams from street protests, trials, rallies, and cultural events. In 2019, its website garnered 14.7 million page views and its YouTube videos received 2.5 million views.