In Belarus, in the coming days, some Telegram channels may be recognized as extremist formations. This was announced on October 17 by the head of the department of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBOPiK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus Vyacheslav Orlovsky.
He explained that this will happen after the resolution of the Council of Ministers enters into force in the country, which spelled out a new legal institution – extremist groups.
“An extremist formation is an unification of people, a group of citizens who have united thanks to the same Telegram resources. We have, of course, in the development of such resources, which in the very near future, literally in the very next few days, will be recognized as extremist formations, “- said on the air of the STV channel.
According to him, criminal prosecution will be conducted against the creators of Telegram channels, which are located in Belarus and abroad.
“I am sure: they will not be able to stay there forever, abroad. Someday they will repent and return to our country. <…> Therefore, first of all, we will work against those who are in our country. And the time will come – we will put the questions to those who are now abroad, ”added Orlovsky.
It is noted that the administrators and active participants of such resources, which by their reposts, leaks, republishing, “harm the interests of the national security of the country” will also be brought to justice.
Orlovsky added that after serving the main criminal sentence, the participants face a five-year ban on teaching, civil service, military service, the ability to have firearms, as well as work with various drugs and explosives.
According to the head of the GUBOPiK department, 327 extremist channels and chats are currently operating in Telegram.
On October 14, the head of the Commission for Combating Extremism and Rehabilitation of Nazism Lilia Ananich confirmed information about criminal liability for subscribing to Telegram channels banned in Belarus.
On the same day, the head of the country’s foreign ministry, Vladimir Makei, in an interview with Izvestia, noted that criminal prosecution for subscribing to Telegram channels recognized as extremist in Belarus is the right measure. At the same time, he admitted that he himself was subscribed to a number of Telegram channels. Despite this, in his opinion, in the case when it is necessary for professional activity, responsibility should not come.
Protests and riots erupted in Belarus in August 2020 following a presidential election that ended in a victory for Lukashenka. The riots were actively covered by the Nexta Telegram channel, now recognized as extremist in the republic.