KGB brands media executive, activists as terrorists

July 13, BPN. The Committee for State Security (KGB) has added nine more people to its list of “terrorists,” a tactic often used to suppress opposition to Alaksandar Łukašenka’s rule, according to activists.

Among those added was Kanstancin Załatych, director of a business magazine who was sentenced to four years in prison for allegedly abusing power, inciting hatred and insulting Łukašenka and a state official.

Another was Taćciana Kurylina, who allegedly ran protest chat rooms and was detained after returning to Belarus from abroad. She received a four-and-a-half year sentence for posting information that the authorities deemed harmful.

The list also included three members of a coordination council that sought a dialogue with the Łukašenka regime to end the post-election political crisis. Maryja Maroz, Siarhiej Dyleŭski and Volha Kavalkova were tried in absentia and sentenced to 12 years each.

The others were Ivan Kotaŭ, an athlete and blogger; Uładzisłaŭ Kupryjanaŭ, an engineer; and Alaksiej Procharaŭ and Vadzim Saskaviec, who were convicted of inciting hatred.