We investigate corruption, uncover fake news and analyze the news agenda. The BIC is a member of the global network of investigative journalists.
Our journalists have received theHans Staiger Investigative Award from the International Center for Journalists; the Free Media Award from the ZEIT-Stiftung Bucerius and the Fritt Ord Foundation; and the Data Journalism Award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Our Dubai Unlocked project was also shortlisted for the Sigma Awards.
Between 2018 and 2026, our journalists received 11 Belarusian Volnaye Slova Awards.
BIC is a member of the OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project)
We are also members of GIJN (Global Investigative Journalism Network)
Fact-Checking the Global Reach: ‘Lukashenko received Birthday Greetings from Worldwide.’ Global Count of Nations in Azarenok's World
The Telegram channel “Pul Pervogo” revealed who congratulated Aleksandr Lukashenko on his birthday.
Alexander Lukashenko turned 70 on August 30, 2024. A Belarusian pro-government media person, Grigory Azarenok, claimed that “the entire world” had congratulated him on his birthday. The Weekly Top Fake team found out the number of nations in Azarenok's world.
On September 5, 2024, Grigory Azarenok reported numerous birthday greetings for Aleksandr Lukashenko on his show “Azarenok. Napryamuyu.”
“Yesterday, [Lukashenko's press secretary — ed.] Natalya Nikolaevna Eismont made an interesting comment about the president's birthday. We haven't talked about it publicly, but, of course, the whole world knows the Bat’ka [Lukashenko’s nickname — ed.], the whole world congratulated the Batka,” the host said.
The Telegram channel “Pul Pervogo” revealed who congratulated Aleksandr Lukashenko on his birthday. It was the leaders of four countries: Russia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan.
Vladimir Putin received congratulations from representatives of 11 countries on his 70th birthday on October 7, 2022.
Although the treaty between Belarus and China refers to support for sovereignty and territorial integrity, it contains no commitments regarding military aid.