Chats for Relatives of Prisoners Declared an “Extremist Formation”

Belarus’s KGB has declared the largest chat for relatives of prisoners, “SIZO No. 1 Kalyadzichy”, an “extremist formation”.

Other Telegram and Viber chats used by relatives of prisoners were also included in the same “formation”:

• Telegram chat ID 1168669352
• Telegram chat ID 2338820883
• Telegram chat ID 542733250
• Telegram chat ID 521951391
• Telegram chat ID 1617270969
• Telegram chat ID 1630658694
• Telegram chat ID 1208205502
• Telegram chat ID 2645755108
• Telegram chat ID 3465506007
• Telegram chat ID 2519006562
• Viber chat “SIZO-3 Homiel”
• Viber chat “IK-1”
• Viber chat “Antoshkina”
• Viber chat “IK-8 Orsha”
• Viber chat “IK-3 Vitsba”
• Viber chat “IK-11 Vaukavysk”
• Viber chat “Pyatnashka” Veina”
• Viber chat “Penal Colony No. 17 Shklou”
• Viber chat “IK-17 Shklou”
• https://vk.com/ik2sikorskogo1
• https://vk.com/club158252385
• https://vk.com/ik14_novosady.

At the end of March, the “SIZO No. 1 Kalyadzichy” chat was declared “extremist material”. At that time, it had around 1,800 members.

In the chat, relatives of prisoners exchanged information and discussed parcel delivery rules, visiting schedules, correspondence and other issues related to detention facilities.

It should be recalled that extremism accusations are used in Belarus to fight opponents and dissent in general.