Police open extremism case against opposition figure

November 4, BPN. Police in Belarus have opened a criminal case against Vadzim Prakopjeŭ, assistant commander of the Belarusian Pahonia unit fighting in Ukraine. Prakopjeŭ and others are suspected of organizing an extremist group, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

“We know that a recruitment and financial center for the so-called Pahonia regiment has been established in Warsaw, which recruits males aged 20 to 45 with military experience,” said Jaŭhien Pilecki, the head of organized crime unit GUBOPiK. “The training and coordination of militants is conducted by foreign instructors in the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine. The organizers of this extremist formation include Vadzim Prakopjeŭ and Valer Sachaščyk.”

“In their opinion, these militants will become an important instrument for overthrowing the legitimate government in Belarus. On November 2, 2022 the Investigative Committee used GUBOPiK’s files to open a criminal case against Prakopjeŭ and others for creating an extremist formation or participating in it,” Pilecki added.

Prakopjeŭ was previously known as a businessman and restaurateur in Minsk. During the mass protests in 2020, he joined the democratic forces. He now resides abroad. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he announced joining the Pahonia unit.

In June 2022, the KGB recognized as an “extremist group” followers of Vadzim Prakopjeŭ’s YouTube channel and the Radio Hague channel on Telegram.