Culture initiative branded “extremist” group, prominent musician feared arrested
Aleś Čumakoŭ
December 22, Pozirk. The Committee for State Security (KGB) branded the Da Zoraŭ culture initiative as an “extremist” group, according to the interior ministry’s website.
The KGB listed Aleś Čumakoŭ of the medieval music band Stary Olsa and Siamion Małašankaŭ as members. The extremist designation also covers the initiative’s Instagram page.
Čumakoŭ is likely under arrest, according to a report by Naša Niva. The Viasna Human Rights Center said that arrests linked to the Da Zoraŭ initiative took place in late November but could not confirm any names.
Belarusian authorities routinely use extremism designations to silence critical voices after the disputed 2020 presidential election. Association with an extremist group carries a penalty of two to seven years in prison.
Interior ministry brands former Kalinoŭski fighter, 31 others as extremists
December 20, Pozirk. The Belarusian interior ministry has added 32 more people to the list of “persons involved in extremist activity,” taking the total number of entries on the official extremist register to 6,116. All blacklisted people were convicted in …
