{"id":571870,"date":"2026-08-27T20:33:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T17:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reform.news\/?p=571870"},"modified":"2026-08-28T09:11:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T06:11:40","slug":"lukashenka-regime-is-afraid-of-its-own-shadow-ukrainian-foreign-ministry-on-chornohor-s-instagram-being-declared-extremist-in-belarus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/lukashenka-regime-is-afraid-of-its-own-shadow-ukrainian-foreign-ministry-on-chornohor-s-instagram-being-declared-extremist-in-belarus","title":{"rendered":"\u201cLukashenka Regime Is Afraid of Its Own Shadow\u201d \u2014 Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Chornohor\u2019s Instagram Being Declared \u201cExtremist\u201d in Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi<\/strong> commented<\/a> on a Belarusian court\u2019s decision to designate the Instagram account of Iaroslav Chornogor<\/strong>, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry\u2019s Special Envoy on Belarus, as \u201cextremist materials.\u201d<\/p>\n

On X, he reposted Chornogor\u2019s message and said that the Belarusian authorities were trying to \u201csilence independent voices\u201d by using the mechanism of designating information resources as \u201cextremist materials.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lukashenka regime is afraid of its own shadow.<\/em><\/p>\n

Minsk is trying to silence independent voices by labeling the Instagram account of @MFA_Ukraine\u02bcs Special Envoy on Belarus, Iaroslav Chornogor @Iar_Ch, as \u2018extremist materials.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

This follows similar moves against @EUvsDisinfo, EU-backed SALT, Education for Belarusians programs, and Lithuania\u2019s Central Project Management Agency. Minsk follows Moscow\u2019s playbook to silence dissent and sow fear among its own people,\u201d<\/em> the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d<\/em> he added.<\/p>\n

Chornogor himself also reported today that his Instagram account had been added to the list of \u201cextremist materials\u201d in Belarus.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing a ruling by a Belarusian court, my Instagram account was added to the list of \u2018extremist materials\u2019. The ruling was based on a post about Ukraine\u2019s independence and the right of the Belarusian people to determine the future of their own country,\u201d<\/em> he wrote.<\/p>\n

On August 25, the Horki District Court designated Iaroslav Chornogor\u2019s Instagram account as \u201cextremist materials\u201d<\/a>. Chornogor serves as the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry\u2019s Special Envoy on Belarus and is responsible for contacts with representatives of Belarusian democratic forces.<\/p>\n

Extremism accusations are used in Belarus to persecute Lukashenka\u2019s opponents and dissent in general.<\/p>\n

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The Lukashenka regime is afraid of its own shadow. <\/p>\n

Minsk is trying to silence independent voices by labeling the Instagram account of @MFA_Ukraine<\/a>\u02bcs Special Envoy on Belarus, Iaroslav Chornogor @Iar_Ch<\/a>, as "extremist materials."<\/p>\n

This follows similar moves against @EUvsDisinfo<\/a>,\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/nc8J5txero<\/a><\/p>\n

— Heorhii Tykhyi (@SpoxUkraineMFA) August 27, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n