Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi commented on a Belarusian court’s decision to designate the Instagram account of Iaroslav Chornogor, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy on Belarus, as “extremist materials.”
On X, he reposted Chornogor’s message and said that the Belarusian authorities were trying to “silence independent voices” by using the mechanism of designating information resources as “extremist materials.”
“The Lukashenka regime is afraid of its own shadow.
Minsk is trying to silence independent voices by labeling the Instagram account of @MFA_Ukraineʼs Special Envoy on Belarus, Iaroslav Chornogor @Iar_Ch, as ‘extremist materials.’
This follows similar moves against @EUvsDisinfo, EU-backed SALT, Education for Belarusians programs, and Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency. Minsk follows Moscow’s playbook to silence dissent and sow fear among its own people,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson wrote.
“We join the EU in demanding the immediate reversal of these decisions, free access to information for Belarusians, and an end to repression. We call for increased pressure on both regimes, which continue to threaten European security,” he added.
Chornogor himself also reported today that his Instagram account had been added to the list of “extremist materials” in Belarus.
“Following a ruling by a Belarusian court, my Instagram account was added to the list of ‘extremist materials’. The ruling was based on a post about Ukraine’s independence and the right of the Belarusian people to determine the future of their own country,” he wrote.
On August 25, the Horki District Court designated Iaroslav Chornogor’s Instagram account as “extremist materials”. Chornogor serves as the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy on Belarus and is responsible for contacts with representatives of Belarusian democratic forces.
Extremism accusations are used in Belarus to persecute Lukashenka’s opponents and dissent in general.
The Lukashenka regime is afraid of its own shadow.
Minsk is trying to silence independent voices by labeling the Instagram account of @MFA_Ukraineʼs Special Envoy on Belarus, Iaroslav Chornogor @Iar_Ch, as "extremist materials."
This follows similar moves against @EUvsDisinfo,… https://t.co/nc8J5txero
— Heorhii Tykhyi (@SpoxUkraineMFA) August 27, 2026
