Independent Belarusian media outlet calls for support
We are "Novy Chas": a small media outlet, whose name means "New Time" in Belarusian. For more than twenty years, we have written in the Belarusian language for people who care about Belarus and aim to build a better country and society. We have been operating in exile since 2021, and now kindly ask for support for our ongoing efforts.
What we do
We regularly write about often avoided topics that still matter: civic society, human rights, renaissance of Belarusian language and culture, repressions and political prisoners, citizens' opposition to the authoritarian rule and to its alliance in the war against Ukraine. For us and our audience (Belarusians in the country and abroad) they are not abstract concepts, but a lived experience rooted in existential values.
Since using the Belarusian language is a civic gesture in itself, we are deliberately publishing exclusively in Belarusian for decades. We write about world events, economics, international dynamics, history, culture and sports — anything that media usually covers, not only socio-political topics. Our readers rely on "Novy Chas" for consistent, independent coverage, well-curated Belarusian-language content, and social reflection that resonates with their principles.
Altogether this is our way to protect and develop the Belarusian non-authoritarian identity (both national and civic) which is systematically targeted by repression and authoritarian propaganda aiming for its full erasure and disappearance.
What we don't do
We are not chasing hype and scandals.
We do not endorse aggressive ideologies or 'pragmatic' appeasement oftyrannies.
We are not doing propaganda.
We do not act on behalf of and are not directed by any political party
Why your support matters
Regular operation based purely on volunteering is fragile, especially in exile. Contributors (most of whom are political exiles, and some are former political prisoners) need at least some compensation for their work to remain sustainable. Technical infrastructure has modest, but recurring costs. Editorial work needs to be continuous.
As a media outlet writing for a niche audience in a suppressed language, our chances of receiving support from institutional donors are extremely limited.
Still, we believe that media like ours are important for Belarusian society, which is why we continue this work.
You may never read our publications, or may not feel personally connected to the Belarusian cause. But if our approach and attitude resonate with you, a donation will help us take the next steps forward.
Thank you.
How to donate
Donations are accepted by Foundation "New Time For Belarus", registered in Łódź, Poland (Fundacja "Nowy Czas dla Bialorusi”, KRS:0001193564, NIP: 7252359081, REGON: 542698311, email: [email protected]). More detailed information on foundation, financial security and personal data processing is provided below
Currently, the primary channel of donations is bank transfers; we're working on adding more conventional tools
Foundation's bank accounts:
- EUR: PL 31 1020 3408 0000 4102 0621 9317
- USD: PL 09 1020 3408 0000 4102 0621 9325
- PLN: PL 26 1020 3408 0000 4302 0621 9309
Transfer attributes:
- Beneficiary Bank: PKO Bank Polski
- SWIFT Code: BPKOPLPW
- Beneficiary: FUNDACJA NOWY CZAS DLA BIALORUSI
- Purpose: Donation (or: "Donation for statutory goals")
About our media
"Novy Chas" was founded in 2007 in Belarus as an independent sociopolitical weekly newspaper printed exclusively in Belarusian.
Since 2008 it also operates as online resource.
In 2021, following the government crackdown on Belarusian media, operations in Belarus (including printing of paper version) were suppressed, and media switched to operations in exile as purely online outlet novychas.online.
Since 2025, center of activities shifted to Poland, where members of editorial team established a non-profit foundation for administration of media operations.
Over the decades, "Novy Chas" was committed to advocacy for human rights, freedom of speech, democratization of Belarus, criticizing authoritarian regime, and promoting ideas of Belarusian independence and protection and development of Belarusian cultural identity.
Being a pluralistic media, it gave space to many voices on social and political matters, not discriminating authors by their political views, as long as core values (human rights, democracy, tolerance, freedom of speech, independence of Belarus and development of national identity) were respected.
In 2021, editorial board funded delivery of the newspaper to all of the political prisoners behind bars (their number was several hundred at the time), thus providing them with independent information, until practice was prohibited by prison administration.
At the same time the outlet extensively covered personal stories of political prisoners and their families, giving them voice and empathy they were deprived of.
Since 2022, "Novy Chas" provides daily coverage of political repressions in Belarus and of war in Ukraine, considering documentation of these events an activity of public interest.
As many Belarusian media, "Novy Chas" operates in harsh conditions.
Events of 2021, which led to exile, included: blockade of print and distribution, blockade of website, long-term imprisonment of one author for investigative journalism, no-knock police raid and search in editorial office with detainment and interrogation of two editors on undisclosed criminal case. Later in 2022, the editor-in-chief was imprisoned for 2 months on politically motivated charges, after whichshe left the country and joined the team in exile.
In 2024 and 2025, financial crisis evolved, which led to deliberate reduction in publication frequency, and increased reliance on volunteer work.
Still, outlet continues to update regularly, and provide daily coverage of repressions and war, alongside publishing articles on wider topics (which as of the February of 2026 are either courtesy or occasionally honoraria-based).
Detailed information
Please carefully read and understand all the information below. Every header expands relevant section when clicked on.
The Foundation "Nowy Czas dla Bialorusi" ("New Time for Belarus") was established in 2025 in Poland by members of the editorial team of the independent media project "Novy Chas", with the aim of ensuring sustainable, transparent, and compliant support for the project's activities in exile.
Currently, the Foundation's primary focus is supporting and managing the operational, technical, and organizational aspects of "Novy Chas"'s work.
The Foundation does not conduct commercial activities and operates solely in pursuit of its statutory objectives.
The recipient of all funds is the Foundation "Nowy Czas dla Bialorusi", based in Łódź (Poland), registered in the National Court Register (KRS) under number 0001193564 (NIP/TaxID: 7252359081, REGON: 542698311). The Foundation can be contacted by email [email protected] .
Funds donated to the Foundation are used to pursue its statutory objectives and to fund the operational activities necessary to achieve them. In accordance with its statute, the Foundation's activities include supporting the functioning of the independent media project "Novy Chas".
The use of funds may include, but is not limited to:
• remuneration for journalists, editors, authors, and technical staff of the media project
• development and promotion of the media activity of "Novy Chas", management of its resources, and content creation
• expenses related to the project's technical and digital infrastructure
• other reasonable costs (including administrative, tax, and organizational expenses) necessary to achieve the Foundation's statutory objectives
At present, the Foundation does not use separate bank accounts for specific campaigns or projects. All donations are recorded and used in accordance with the Foundation's statutory goals. Decisions regarding the allocation of donated funds are made by the Foundation.
Direct donations to bank accounts are of a general (non-earmarked) nature and do not constitute targeted donations unless explicitly agreed in writing by the Foundation.
For your own safety, we ask you not to send funds from bank accounts registered in Belarus or Russia.
The Foundation also does not accept funds from individuals or legal entities that are subject to European Union sanctions.
If you intend to donate more than EUR 5,000, please contact the Foundation in advance at [email protected].
When receiving donations, the Foundation may obtain the following data from banks or payment service providers: the sender's first and last name or organization name, account number or other payment source, date and amount of the payment, as well as contact details (telephone number, email address, sometimes address) if provided, and the payment title or remittance message.
In certain cases, the Foundation may request additional information from donors to verify the legality and security of transactions. This may include information about the donor's country of residence, the origin of funds, the purpose of the donation, or copies of relevant documents
.The controller of donors' personal data is the Foundation "Nowy Czas dla Bialorusi" (KRS: 0001193564, Łódź, Poland).\ For matters related to personal data processing, the Foundation can be contacted via email [email protected]
Donors' personal data is used solely for lawful record-keeping, cooperation with banks and auditing/accounting services (art 6.1c and 6.1f GDPR), and for compliance with AML requirements and European Union sanctions regulations (art 6.1c GDPR).
Data may be transferred to:
- • Polish public authorities,
• the bank processing the Foundation's payments,
• auditing and accounting service providers engaged by the Foundation
Personal data is retained for no longer than needed (by default no more than **five years** unless otherwise prescribed by law). Donors may exercise their rights of access, correction, and erasure within the limits provided by law (note: in cases related to accounting and payment processing, the right to correction or erasure may be restricted by applicable law).