Brussels condemns Belarus’ extremist labels for EU-funded projects
August 26, Pozirk. Minsk’s designation of EU-funded projects, including EUvsDisinfo, as extremist reflects the Alaksandar Łukašenka regime’s “systematic efforts to suppress critical thinking, restrict fundamental freedoms and shrink civic space,” the European External Action Service (EEAS) said.
“The European Union strongly condemns such actions,” the statement reads. “This unjustified decision seeks to restrict Belarusians’ access to independent information and educational opportunities.”
EUvsDisinfo is the EU flagship project that purports to identify and expose pro-Kremlin disinformation. Other projects recently blacklisted by Minsk include the website and social media pages of the EU-supported SALT and Education for Belarusians programs and of Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency (CPVA).
The EEAS called on Minsk to reverse the decision without delay and to end ongoing politically-motivated persecution of Belarusians.
“The EU will continue to stand with the Belarusian people and support their right to unbiased information and opportunities for them to study, learn and work in an environment of academic freedom,” it stressed.
Lithuania has aligned itself with the statement, describing Minsk’s extremist designations as a “politically-motivated and unjustified measure” that restrict Belarusians’ access to information on civil society support, education, mobility, and other initiatives by the EU and its member states.
Belarus’ decision to brand CPVA’s information resources as extremist is a biased attempt to discredit legitimate international cooperation, Vilnius stressed.
“Unilateral decisions by the Belarusian regime will not alter Lithuania‘s and the EU’s commitment to assisting the people of Belarus and ensuring their access to objective information and international support programmes,” it noted.
Information ministry adds Euronews, EUvsDisinfo to list of “extremist content”
August 5, Pozirk. Political purges in Belarus continued unabated on August 5 with reports of dozens of new “extremist” designations and harrassment by police and state security agencies. Below is Pozirk’s recap: The information ministry added 27 Instagram, Threads, TikTok, …
