KGB labels several Mahiliou media and sports news website as “extremist formations”
The Interior Ministry of Belarus website listed the following media among the extremist formations: the 6TV Belarus YouTube channel, information website Mahiliou Media, news publication Tribuna.com Belarus, and their social media and messaging accounts.
On November 29, the Security Committee of Belarus made the correspondent decision on regional media. The ruling for Tribuna.com Belarus was issued on December 5.
The KGB accused journalists Dzmitry Salaujou, Uladzimir Laptsevich, and Aliaksandr Burakou Sr from Mahiliou of involvement in “extremist activities” by means of regional media.
These journalists are currently outside of Belarus. They had to leave the country due to persecution and pressure related to their professional activities following the 2020 protests.
Tribuna.com is the largest sports website in Belarus, formerly known as Goals.by. Since August 2020, the site has been blocked for users within Belarus. As of August 2021, the content of the site and its social media accounts have been designated as “extremist”.
Tribuna journalist Dzmitry Ruto was arrested on 1 June 2020 for wearing a white and red scarf while driving his car. He was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention allegedly for participating in an illegal protest.
Another Tribuna journalist, Aliaksandr Ivulin, was arrested on 3 June 2021 and later sentenced to two years in prison for participating in actions that violated public order. In February 2023, he completed his sentence and left Belarus.
Under current Belarusian law, individuals who are identified as members of an extremist formation may incur criminal charges for “creating or participating in an extremist formation” (Article 361–1 of the Criminal Code) or “facilitating extremist activity” (Article 361–4 of the Criminal Code). The punishment for these acts includes a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment.
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