May 4, Pozirk. Belarus has designated the Swedish International Liberal Center as an “extremist” organization, a move that could lead to criminal prosecution of its foreign executives.
The Supreme Court of Belarus issued the ruling on April 23, according to the Viasna Human Rights Center.
Authorities also named individuals allegedly associated with the group, including Per Olsson, Cesar Chirino, Olga Nemanezhyna, Sandra Fors, Adina Martin, Ing-Marie Viklund, Anders Bergheden, and Indre Bulavaite-Andrejeve.
According to its website, the foundation works to promote democracy by supporting activists in authoritarian states and assisting them in their efforts to challenge dictatorships.
Belarusian authorities have frequently used anti-extremism legislation to target political opponents. The country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB have designated hundreds of civil society organizations as “extremist.” Activists detained by security services have been imprisoned, while those still at large face the threat of criminal prosecution.
