Minsk Recognized the Website and Social Networks of the Polish TV Channel Belsat as Extremist | Major political events in Belarus: assessments, forecasts, comments

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus announced the recognition of the materials of the website and pages in social networks of the Polish TV channel Belsat as extremist. “This decision was made on July 27 by the court of the Zheleznodorozhny district of Gomel. The grounds for this were the materials of the inspection of the GUBOPiK department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Gomel region,” the press service of the Belarusian ministry said on the same day.

At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded of the administrative responsibility for the dissemination (repost) of information from sources recognized as extremist with a penalty in the form of a fine or arrest.

Belsat promised to continue working

In turn, the deputy director of “Belsat” Aleksey Dzikavitskiy pointed out that the decision of the Gomel court “can hardly be called legitimate” because of “a complete legal default in Belarus.” “There is no point in appealing against him. Belsat will continue to work, we will continue to deliver independent information in the Belarusian language without censorship to our esteemed viewers and readers. And no court will forbid us to do so,” he said.

The TV channel also reminded that subscribing to and reading Belsat’s materials in social networks and on the website does not constitute the dissemination of extremist information. “Repost – yes. Subscription and reading – no. For distribution – administrative responsibility”, – stated in the statement.

Searches of Belsat journalists

In mid-July, a wave of searches of journalists, media and human rights activists took place in Belarus. Among others, the security officials came to Belsat journalists Pavel Mozheiko, Anna Galeta, Galina Abakunchik, Kristina Chernyavskaya, Alexey Kairis, the host of the Every One of Us program and the founder of Mova Nanov courses Gleb Lobodenko, Gomel TV correspondent Yevgeny Merkis, Igor Ilyash … Galeta and Ilyash were detained and released a few days later. Ilyash’s wife, journalist Yekaterina Andreeva, was convicted of streaming from the protest action.

The European Union condemned the searches in Belarus and threatened to consider the introduction of new restrictive measures against the Lukashenka regime. “The new wave of repression is further evidence that the Lukashenka regime is waging a systematic and well-planned campaign with the ultimate goal of drowning out all remaining dissident voices and suppressing civil society in Belarus,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said.

The Belarusian-language satellite TV channel Belsat was created by the Polish Foreign Ministry and the Polish Public Television and began broadcasting in 2007. The TV channel is not accredited in Belarus.

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Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Record for political prisoners in Belarus

Over 500 – such a record number of political prisoners in the history of the country is quoted by the human rights center “Viasna”. Among those who were unfairly imprisoned due to political persecution are presidential campaign participants, volunteers of their headquarters, activists, businessmen, bloggers, journalists, IT specialists, workers, students and other protesters.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Victor and Edward Babariko

A presidential contender, ex-head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko could become Lukashenka’s strongest rival in the elections. He was detained along with his son Eduard, who led his initiative group, in June 2020 on charges of money laundering, bribery and tax evasion. On July 6, 2021, Viktor Babariko was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Maria Kolesnikova

Musician and art director Maria Kolesnikova headed the election headquarters of Viktor Babariko. Then she became one of the “three graces” who headed the Joint Headquarters of the opposition. Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council. She was kidnapped and brought to the border with Ukraine for expulsion from the country. But she tore up my passport and thwarted this operation. In prison since September 2020. Charged in the case of seizing power.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

To jail – for legal aid

Lawyer of Viktor Babariko’s headquarters, member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council Maksim Znak and lawyer of Maria Kolesnikova Ilya Salei were detained in September in the case of public calls to action to the detriment of national security. In December, a criminal case on the seizure of power was opened against the Coordination Council, and Maxim Znak became a defendant. Ilya Salei is now under house arrest.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Sergei Tikhanovsky

The author of the channel “Country for Life”, popular on the Belarusian YouTube, Sergei Tikhanovsky was going to run for the presidency of Belarus, but was detained even before the start of the election campaign. After that, his wife Svetlana put forward her candidacy. Released after administrative arrest, he helped collect signatures for Svetlana, but was again detained. He has been under arrest since May 2020.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Country for Life activists

Within the framework of the “Country for Life” project, Tikhanovsky traveled to the regions of Belarus and gave an opportunity to local residents to tell about their problems. In addition to Tikhanovsky, several members of the project team are now under arrest: activist Olga Pavlova, driver Alexander Aranovich and social media moderator Dmitry Popov.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Igor Losik

The founder of the telegram channel “Belarus of the Brain” Igor Losik actively covered the events around the election campaign of the President of Belarus. Detained in June. He was accused of organizing and preparing actions to the detriment of public order. Then a new charge was brought up: “preparation for participation in mass riots.” He went on a hunger strike in protest for over 40 days.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Bloggers behind bars

Other Belarusian bloggers were also detained for political reasons: Sergei Petrukhin (“People’s Reporter”, “Youtube-Deputies”) – in the photo, Sergei Korshun and Sergei Yaroshevich (“Army with the People”), Vladimir Neronsky (“Slutsk for Life” ), Alexander Kabanov (“People’s Reporter”), Dmitry Kozlov (“Gray Cat”), Denis Gutin (“Drivers-97”), Vladimir Tsyganovich (MozgOn), Nikolai Dedok, Eduard Palchis.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Leaders of the “old” opposition

Pavel Sevyarynets, co-founder of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (pictured), has been arrested more than once before. In June 2020, he was detained after pickets to collect signatures for the nomination of presidential candidates. Mikalai Statkevich is another well-known opposition figure, presidential candidate in 2010. Detained in May on the way to the pre-election picket of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and is still in custody.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Katerina Borisevich

Journalists also fell victim to political repression. Katerina Borisevich (Tut.by portal) spent 6 months in prison. In her article, she wrote that there was no alcohol in the blood of Roman Bondarenko, who died after being beaten by Lukashenka’s supporters, contrary to the claims of the authorities. This information was given to her by the doctor of the emergency hospital Artem Sorokin, now also a political prisoner.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Katerina Andreeva and Daria Chultsova

Journalists of the Polish TV channel Belsat Katerina Andreeva and Darya Chultsova were streaming during the brutal dispersal of the protesters by the security forces in the Minsk courtyard, known as “Change Square” – and received two years in prison. They were accused of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Andrey Alexandrov

Journalist and media manager Andrei Alexandrov, along with his girlfriend Irina Zlobina, was detained on suspicion of financing the protests. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Aleksandrov paid the fines of the protesters with funds from the BY_help fund. Detainees in the “Press Club case”, which was involved in media projects aimed at realizing freedom of speech, are also imprisoned under a criminal article.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

The PandaDoc case

Of the four employees of the Belarusian office of the IT company PandaDoc, detained in the fall, only product director Viktor Kuvshinov remains in prison on suspicion of embezzlement of funds. Human rights activists are confident that this is how the authorities are putting pressure on the founder of the company, Nikita Mikado. After the elections, he helped security officials who refused to follow criminal orders, suppressing protests, and lost their jobs.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Student activists

Students were expelled or subjected to administrative arrests for protests. More than a dozen became political prisoners after actions in universities. Among them are six activists of the Union of Belarusian Students: Alana Gebrimariam (member of the Coordination Council, representative of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on youth affairs, pictured), Ksenia Syromolot, Yana Orobeiko, Kasya Budko, Yegor Kanetsky, Tatyana Yekelchik.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime

Disproportionate response to protesters

Several dozen political prisoners are accused of participating in mass riots or using violence against police officers. According to human rights activists, peaceful protests did not pose a threat to national or public security. Certain cases of violence against the police require a separate legal qualification – in the context of self-defense against disproportionate actions of the security forces.

Author: Yanina Moroz