KGB brands another local news site as extremist group

November 9, Pozirk. On October 24, the Committee for State Security (KGB) blacklisted ex-press.live, a local media outlet from Barysaŭ, Minsk region, and its social media pages, as an extremist group.
The Russian-born editor in chief, Mila Polyk, as well as Russian nationals Anastasiya Bobrovskaya and Oleg Matskevich as well as Belarusian nationals Pavieł Slapuchin and Alena Kulbiakina are listed as alleged members of the group.
Ex-press.live also known as ex-press.by was set up by journalists from the independent newspaper Kurier iz Borisova outlawed in 2005.
Authorities blocked access to the website for Belarus-based readers in August 2021. Its content was blacklisted as extremist twice: in October 2021 and in February 2023. In April, authorities barred the website from the .by domain.
The team left Belarus and continues working abroad, according to Pozirk‘s sources.
Authorities also attached an extremist label to the Gomel za Nikitu Zolotareva Telegram chat alleging that it is linked to Michaił Łapunoŭ, jailed since early August for sharing opposition content. His son Mikita Załataroŭ is currently serving four and a half years in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated.
The KGB list of extremist groups currently has 157 entries, including 20 media outlets, such as BelaPAN, Belsat TV, Radyjo Svaboda, Naša Niva, zerkalo.io, Bobruisk Online, Flagshtok, kyky.org, Chestnaya Gazeta, Euroradio, Charter’97, Hrodna.life, Vestniki, Malanka Media, Brestskaya Gazeta, MOST, homeldays.org, the Insider Telegram channel, the Ranak TV station and ex-press.live.
- SocietyThunderstorm aftermath: 176 toppled trees, properties damagedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyJob openings exceed 210,000 in early JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka unveils Minsk stadium, thanks ChinaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsBelarusian envoy discusses labor migration with Vietnam’s officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsWarsaw extends border area entry ban by 90 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsOpposition politicians meet diplomats from Australia, BelgiumThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Minsk keeps cracking down on freedom of expressionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ sanctioned airline adds A330-200 to its fleetThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportScottish Greens leader wants Belarus banned from World Cup qualifiersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja to take part in EU-Belarus group meeting in BrusselsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders label 14 as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ vehicle sales fall in May after a change in auto loan termsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFourty-five people have been added to "extremist list"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka bans banks from transferring cash to foreign gambling entitiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics
- SocietyBorder guards, riot police arrest drone operator in Hrodna regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy