Belarus has added 625 people to its official list of alleged “extremists,” most with ties to the political opposition to leader Alexander Lukashenko and a military unit supporting Ukraine, Belarus’ interior ministry said Friday.
The latest update increased the blacklist by a third, to a total of 1,469.
Among the targets are opposition activists, businessmen, journalists and others who participated in or reported on anti-government protests that rocked Belarus for months in 2020.
The large-scale demonstrations followed a controversial presidential election, which the country’s strongman, Alexander Lukashenko, announced he had won with more than 80% of the vote.
Lukashenko’s opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, fled to Lithuania after the government responded with a brutal crackdown, with police arresting more than 35,000 people and beating thousands.
Human rights group Viasna, whose founder Ales Bialiatsky was a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize this month, described the government’s latest restrictive measures as part of a wider climate of repression following protests over Lukashenko’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Arrests, searches and torture in detention centers in Belarus continue, pressure is put on political prisoners and on anyone who disagrees [do Governo] be classified as extremists”underlines Viasna in a statement.
“Repressions are underway against civilians who are actively expressing their social position in connection with the war launched by Russia in Ukraine”he added.
Among those added to the Interior Ministry’s list of alleged “extremists” are members of the Pahonia regiment, a Belarusian military unit helping the Ukrainian army in the fight against Russian aggression.
Those on the list are prohibited from performing public office, teaching and publishing activities, and military service in Belarus.
Anyone who distributes “extremist” material risks a criminal charge, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Aksana Kolb, editor-in-chief of the independent weekly Novy Chas, was also blacklisted.
This publication was blocked in Belarus and Kolb was detained for several months for his coverage of the protest.
The journalist described Minsk’s continued crackdown on its opponents as a sign of fear for the… ‘Growing discontent in the country’.
“The authorities are trying to label anyone who expresses their point of view as an extremist in order to shut up and create a vacuum around that person.”Kolb underlined in a statement, who left Belarus after his release from prison.
Social media accounts linked to Valery Tsepkalo, an opposition politician and former presidential candidate now living in exile, were also added this Friday.
Source: DN
