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)
‘Poland has the most polluted air in the world.’ Claim by ‘ZhS Premium’ Fact-Checked
In total, the “dirty” list worldwide includes 120 megacities, with no Belarusian cities represented.
The Telegram channel ‘ZhS Premium’ published a list of megacities with the worst air quality, suggesting that Polish cities rank among the most polluted in the world. The Weekly Top Fake team investigated whether it was true.
In late September, forest fires engulfed the Gomel region, Belarus, which borders Russia and Ukraine. On September 17, the media outlet ‘Green Portal’ reported strong smoke odors and declining air quality, according to residents. Five days later, the authors of the ‘ZhS Premium’ Telegram channel released a ranking of the world’s cities with the most polluted air.
Their post reads: “TOP of the dirtiest cities on the planet. Of course, we’re talking about air pollution. It is worth noting that several Polish cities — Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Krakow — appear near the top of the list. Kyiv is also on the cut.
In total, the “dirty” list worldwide includes 120 megacities, with no Belarusian cities represented. From Russia, only Krasnoyarsk (ranks 86th) and Moscow (115th) are included.”
The ranking published by ‘ZhS Premium’ is a screenshot from the IQAir website, a free platform that provides air quality information. This ranking includes the 120 largest cities worldwide and is updated in real-time, meaning its figures change constantly. As of 11:41 AM Minsk time on September 30, 2024, there were no Polish cities at the top.
By the end of 2023, no Polish cities were among the most polluted; only cities from Asia were included on the list.
Although scientists acknowledge that large wind farms can influence precipitation, this effect is limited to within 60–100 km of them. In the summer, virtually no noticeable changes were observed.
