Detentions of subscribers of “extremist” telegram channels began in Belarus

by time news

Law enforcement bodies of Belarus on October 25 detained 24 people in Gomel, the human rights center “Viasna” reports. Today, on October 26, the detentions continue, the first were held in Brest, human rights activists noted.

On some of the detainees, they drew up protocols for the dissemination of information products containing calls for extremist activities or propagandizing such activities (Article 19.11 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Belarus), the human rights activists specified.

Information about the arrest for subscribing to telegram channels, which were recognized as extremist, is contained in the channel of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GUBoP).

On October 13, the GUBOP reported that subscribers of Telegram channels recognized by the authorities as extremist will be prosecuted as participants in an extremist group (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus). The sanction under this article provides for up to seven years in prison.

“The GUBOP begins work to recognize unregistered groups of citizens carrying out extremist activities, including in messengers and social networks, as extremist formations,” the statement of the Belarusian Interior Ministry said.

As of October 13, more than 100 channels in Belarus were declared extremist. Among them are the channel of the Tut.by edition, the channel of unification of ex-employees of the security structures of Belarus Bypol and the Nexta channel.

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