Railway worker community’s website branded extremist content

June 6, BPN. A court branded the website of the Belarusian railway workers’ community as extremist content, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported without naming the community.

Belarusian Railways accused the website of “disseminating destructive information” and creating social tensions. It contained false information about upcoming staff cuts at Belarusian Railways and criticism of the law enforcement agencies, prosecutors said.

The website is listed in the register of extremist content, the office said, however, the list does feature the community, probably, the information ministry has not yet updated the list on its website.

In January, the interior ministry blacklisted Soobshchestvo Zheleznodorozhnikov Belarusi (Community of Railway Workers of Belarus) as an extremist group, while its social media content was branded extremist in mid-May. It is unclear whether the latest entry is linked to the same community or another one.

In mid-January, police arrested Arciom Vajciachovič, a 15-year-old brother of exiled activist Siarhiej Vajciachovič who administered the community’s Telegram channel. The activist considers extortion charges against his teenage brother to be security forces’ revenge for his activities.