Interior ministry blacklists nearly 150 people with links to opposition as “extremists”

October 24, BPN. The interior ministry on October 21 added 143 names to its list of persons involved in extremist activities. The list features a total of 843 individuals.

Most of the new additions are people accused of participating in protests, including those currently serving their sentences and those who have already been released.

Philosopher Uładzimir Mackievič, journalist Kaciaryna Andrejeva, brothers Kim and Alaksiej Samusenka, blogger Uładzisłaŭ Savin, makeup artist Volha Tomina, student Andrej Masłaŭ, opposition activist Źmicier Daškievič and his wife Anastasia are among the new entries.

Remarkably, the interior ministry listed Mackievič as a Russian citizen, even though he has only Belarusian citizenship. One of his family members told BPN that he never had a Russian passport and suggested that authorities made the mistake on purpose to discredit him.

The interior ministry says that the list helps it prevent crime and maintain public safety. Blacklisted individuals are banned from teaching, publishing, serving in the military and holding public office until their convictions are expunged and within five years thereafter. Authorities can control their financial transactions under the pretext of fighting money laundering and extremism financing.

Those designated as extremists and terrorists are not eligible for pardon or early release under the government-declared clemency program.