The KGB has designated two Polish event agencies and an art space as “extremist formations.”
The companies Terra Group Event and SSL Production have been labelled “extremist.” The KGB claims that Vitaly Kryvko and Andrei Yarashevich are connected to them. Anatol Kotau, who disappeared after flying to Turkey at the end of August, worked at Terra Group Event.
The art space “Sklad Butyelyek” was also added to the list of “extremist formations.” The KGB stated that Valiantsin Bakhtinau, Siarhei Salash, Dzmitry Babitski, Aliaksandra Vishneuskaya, Anastasiya Henadzieuna Tsiareshka, Valeriya Belskaya, Yury Dushyn, Volga Stralkouskaya, Kiryl Skabeyka, Dzmitry Kavalyonak and Siarhei Statkevich are associated with it.
According to the human-rights centre Viasna, the reference is to an art space in Barysau. In the autumn, 10–15 people were detained in Barysau on administrative charges. Human-rights defenders believe that some of them have likely become suspects in criminal cases under the article on participation in an “extremist formation.”
Belarusian security forces have been using extremism charges as a tool to target political opponents and dissent more broadly.
