RFE/RL journalist Halina Abakunchyk was recognized by the Belarusian Association NGOs of Belarus as the “Journalist of the Year” for her coverage of Belarus’ civil society in 2016. The recognition is one of the annual Civil Society Champions awards.
Abakunchyk is a journalist for RFE/RL’s Belarus Service, Radio Svaboda, and was credited with “the most thorough and versatile lighting of relevant activities in the non-governmental sector.”
At the award ceremony, Chairman of the Assembly’s Working Group Siarhiej Mackievic noted: “We hope that Civil Society Champions award will give impetus to new initiatives that expand the space of democracy in Belarus and contribute to national revival”.