The Mahilyow Region Prosecutor’s Office has reported on its efforts to combat “extremism” in the first quarter. Belarusian security forces use extremism charges to persecute opponents of Lukashenka as well as dissent in general.
According to the прокуратура, its staff identified more than 130 social media channels in the first quarter that were allegedly aimed “at destabilising the socio-political and socio-economic situation in the country, as well as promoting protest activity”. Applications were filed with courts in these cases, after which the resources were added to the list of “extremist materials”.
“In addition, as part of efforts to combat extremism, access to five internet resources was restricted by decisions of the Mahilyow Region prosecutor, where information prohibited for distribution had been published.
For example, the resources ‘Flagstok’ and ‘Glavk’ contained materials previously recognised as extremist by court decisions, and also disseminated knowingly false information about the political situation in the Republic of Belarus and the legal status of its citizens,” the prosecutor’s office added.
