Security agencies brand 22 as extremists

June 5, BPN. Belarusian security agencies have added 22 people to the list of “extremists,” a label often attached to regime critics and protesters.

The new additions include linguist Natalla Dulina, a member of the Coordinating Council for Political Crisis Settlement. Minsk Regional Court sentenced Dulina, one of Belarus’ best experts on the Italian language, to three-and-a-half years in prison for extremism and public order offences.

Jaŭhien Bužynski, the doctor from Smarhoń, Hrodna region, who was earlier declared a terrorist, has now been blacklisted as an “extremist”. Hrodno Regional Court sentenced Bužynski to six years in a medium-security prison for online remarks. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction.

Another “extremist” is Źmicier Łazar, charged with insulting a judge. Already serving a 2.5-year prison sentence for insulting a state official and the president, he was tried again one month ago. He has six children, including three minors.

Iłona Zajcava, sentenced to three years of restricted freedom, a form of house arrest, has also been blacklisted.

There are currently 2,890 names on the list.