KGB adds seven to terrorist list

February 1, BPN. The Committee for State Security (KGB) added seven more Belarusians to its list of individuals and entities involved in terrorist activities.

The additions include Taćciana Karpovič and Siarhiej Maciuchievič (five and three years in prison, respectively, on charges of inciting hatred); Andrej Šulhat (accused of insulting a public official and inciting hatred); Dźmitryj Łahodzič (three years for inciting hatred and insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka), Siarhiej Zacharanka (four and a half years for taking part in protests and six other politically-motivated charges). Human rights groups consider them political prisoners.

Alaksandr Łycin is also blacklisted as a terrorist, but human rights defenders have no information about his prosecution.

A total of 1,003 people are on the terrorist list, 256 Belarusian nationals among them. Authorities in Belarus routinely use terrorism and extremism charges to persecute critics of the government.