Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko have kept their place on the “predators of press freedom” list published by watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Putin and Lukashenko have been on the list since RSF began compiling it 20 years ago. A total of 37 heads of state have been identified as predators in 2021 for massively cracking down on press freedom.

Since Putin took office, at least 37 reporters have been killed. During protests in support of Putin’s jailed opponent, Alexei Navalny, police actively flouted press freedom.

Lukashenko has subjected journalists to an unprecedented level of persecution since his disputed reelection in August 2020. Arrests of journalists, violence and torture of protesters, internet shutdowns and censorship of leading news websites have been widespread.