In 2023, 62 "extremist groups" were recognized, 11 of them are media outlets
Currently, there are 169 "extremist groups" in Belarus, 62 of them were recognized in 2023. For comparison: in 2022, 80 positions were included in the "list of organizations, formations, individual entrepreneurs involved in extremist activities". Since 2021, a total of at least 130 people have been convicted of "creating an extremist formation or participating in it" (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code) (as a rule, this article is used together with other criminal articles). Last year, the list included 11 media organizations and five bloggers, Tor Band musicians, Viasna Human Rights Center, Belarusian Association of Journalists, Association of Belarusian Students, two large solidarity groups, and a number of other public associations and communities. Viasna reports the organizations that were recognized as "extremist formations" in 2023.
"Jeopardizes any manifestations of self-organization and solidarity of citizens"
Since the autumn of 2021, the State Security Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belarus have recognized 169 subjects as "extremist formations". In 2021, as many as 27 "extremist groups" were recognized in two months. In 2022, there were 80 such groups, and 62 in 2023.
Viasna human rights defenders have repeatedly drawn attention to the illegality of the procedure for making such decisions:
"Decisions on recognition as "extremist formations" are made out of court by the KGB or the Ministry of Internal Affairs without informing the public of specific grounds for making such decisions. The simplified mechanism for recognizing organizations as "extremist formations", as well as the lack of citizens' access to information and judicial protection mechanisms, jeopardizes any manifestations of self-organization and solidarity of citizens, in response to gross violations of human rights among other things."
Read the report Restriction of Freedom of Expression under the Guise of Combating Extremism and Terrorism in full.
Creation and participation in the "extremist formation" is an offence under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code.
In 2023, the "list of organizations, formations, individual entrepreneurs involved in extremist activities" included independent media, social media pages of bloggers, a music band, Telegram channels and chat rooms (even closed ones), public organizations, and initiatives. We report you the details.
Tor Band musicians
On January 16, 2023, the KGB recognized the Tor Band as an "extremist formation" by its decision. Three musicians — Yauhen Burlo, Dzmitryi Halavach, Andrei Yaremchyk — were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. They were tried for "the creation of an extremist formation" among other things. On October 31, 2023, the Homieĺ Regional Court announced their sentence: from seven and a half years of imprisonment. Everyone was assigned a medium security level and fined (3,700 Belarusian rubles each [1025 euros]). The case was considered behind closed doors during a month and a half.
Political opposition structures
- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Photo: Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections
In 2023, a number of political opposition structures were recognized as "extremist formations": the People's Anti-Crisis Management under the leadership of Pavel Latushka, social media and the website of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and even a closed Telegram channel Analysts of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as well as Coordination Council and Rada BNR.
Solidarity communities
On October 24, a closed Telegram chat Homieĺ for Mikita Zalatarou was recognized as a "formation" by the decision of the KGB, and its only indicated participant was the father of the political prisoner Mikhail Lapunou.
On November 10, Telegram chat Akrescina Detainees was included in the list. At the same time, the people who are allegedly involved in the initiative were separately identified: Yauheniya Rubtsova, Alena Pamakha, Ryta Melnikava, Yuryi Shauliukevich, Iryna Nikalayeva, and Tatsiana Seviaryna. The administrators soon deleted the chat.
On December 26, Facebook group Letters of Solidarity Belarus 2020 was recognized as an "extremist formation" by the decision of the KGB. Three people were identified as its participants in the list: Maryna Kasinerava, Ivan Dzeshuk, Iryna Pahadayeva, as well as political prisoner Natallia Malets.
Public organizations and initiatives
On February 28, by decision of the KGB, the Belarusian Association of Journalists was recognized as a "formation".
In June, the SYMPA School of young managers of public administration was added to the list. Its co-founder Tatsiana Kuzina is held behind bars. According to the Sympa website, the mission of the project is to promote the reform of the public administration system in Belarus in accordance with modern principles and practices.
On August 9, by the decision of the KGB, Homieĺ Viasna and former journalist Larysa Shchyrakova were added to the list when she was tried under other articles.
On the same day, the KGB recognized the Startup Hub Imaguru as a "formation". Among the participants of the startup hub are the leaders of the initiative Tatsiana Marynich, Anastasiya Khamiankova, Andrei Novak and Katsiaryna Boltan-Smith. The organization currently has offices in Madrid, Vilnius, and Warsaw.
On August 23, the Interior Ministry recognized the Viasna Human Rights Center and its regional offices as an "extremist formation." Later, the Viasna sent an appeal to the UN special rapporteur regarding the recognition of the organization as an "extremist formation". Human rights activists explained how to cooperate with Viasna now:
Viasna has been recognized as an "extremist formation": how to cooperate with us now?
Let's discuss current issues of cooperation with the human rights center.
At the end of September, the Association of Belarusian Students was included in the list. Soon, the Union of Mothers of Belarus was also recognized as a "formation". The list also includes the Association of Belarusian Business Abroad. On November 29, by the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Dissidentby, an initiative helping political prisoners, was recognized as a "formation".
Civil initiatives and communities
The "list of organizations, formations, individual entrepreneurs involved in extremist activities" included, for example, the Community of Railway Workers of Belarus with their well-known Telegram channel.
On November 15, by decision of the KGB, the Telegram channel Coalition Of Protesting Yards was recognized as a "formation".
At the end of November, at the initiative of the KGB, BELPOL was included in the list. Its participants were former employees of law enforcement agencies Andrei Astapovich, Uladzimir Zhyhar, Matvei Kupreychyk, and former political prisoner blogger Aliaksandr Kabanou.
On December 26, the list included New Belarus, a mobile application for Android and iOS, as well as a website Newbelarus.com, which provides links to various useful services for Belarusians. The KGB named Pavel Liber and Yaraslau Likhacheuski as its participants.
Urban communities
In 2023, the trend of recognizing urban and district associations of citizens as "extremist formations" persisted. Last year, Telegram channel Vaŭkavysk.By — Your News and Telegram chats Solidarity Ivatsevičy, Klimovichi CHAT, Diatlovo for Living were recognized as extremist.
Independent media and bloggers
In total, 11 media organizations were recognized as "extremist formations" in 2023. Among them, there were both big famous media, like Zerkalo.io and Tribuna, and regional media from different parts of Belarus: Brest, Hrodna, Barysaŭ, Mahilioŭ, and Homieĺ.
On February 15, the Ministry of Internal Affairs included Malanka Media in the "list of organizations, formations, individual entrepreneurs involved in extremist activities". Soon, the KGB recognized the Brest Newspaper as an "extremist formation", recognizing its editor-in-chief Viktar Marchuk and his deputy Tatsiana Piskur as participants.
On May 16, by decision of the KGB, MOST and the social media pages of Hrodna journalist Ruslan Kulevich were recognized as an "extremist formation". At the end of May, a Homieĺ media outlet Shtodzien was added to the list.
On June 9, the Interior Ministry recognized Zerkalo.io as a "formation". The Belarusian Investigative Center was added to the list by the decision of the Supreme Court on September 15. At the end of November, the KGB, by its decision, included a Barysaŭ media outlet Ex-press.live in the list. Soon, three media outlets from Mahilioŭ were recognized as "extremist formations": 6tv Bielarus , Mahilioŭ Media, Mahilioŭ Region News.
On December 5, the Interior Ministry decided to recognize a sports media outlet Tribuna as an "extremist formation".
Last year, the "list of organizations, formations, individual entrepreneurs involved in extremist activities" included the social media pages of bloggers Andrei Pavuk and his project Rudabelskaya Pakazukha, blogger Volha Pavuk, journalist and media activist Valer Ruselik with a Youtube channel Daroha, Ukrainian blogger Aliaksandr Rykau "BalaganOff", as well as blogger Tatsiana Martynava.
Volunteer associations in Ukraine
In 2023, the Litvin Battalion and the Belarusian Volunteer Corps fighting on the side of Ukraine were recognized as "extremist formations".
