A pressing issue

by Riccardo Valsecchi

It is 18 years since Belarus gained its independence from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Yet in a country that does not know the excess of the rich not the desperation of the poor and where the unemployment rate is under two per cent, talking about politics, economy or society is still forbidden.

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First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Riccardo Valsecchi has covered the Middle East, former Soviet countries, and Western Europe, specializing in stories about migration, human trafficking, and state crimes. He is a regular contributor to die Tageszeitung.

In 2013, Valsecchi’s first documentary "ID-Withoutcolors" won the prize for best Italian documentary film at the Sardinia Film Festival and the Respekt gewinnt! prize from the Berlin Alliance for Democracy.

He received a degree in literature, art, music, and entertainment from the Università di Bologna and writes in Italian, German, and English. As a photographer he is represented by Corbis/Demotix.