Interior ministry adds 30 to its “extremist” list

October 13, Pozirk. The interior ministry has added 30 more names to the list of “persons involved in extremist activities,” taking their total to 3,429, its website says.

It includes Kirył Hniaździłaŭ sentenced to eight years in prison as well as Alaksandar Bireta and jailed former prosecutor Kanstancin Prytulenka, sentenced to two and six and eight years in prison, respectively on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

People placed on the list of individuals involved in extremist activities are prohibited from engaging in education activity, publishing, as well as from holding state positions and from doing military service, for five years after completing their sentences or criminal record annulment. Their financial transactions are subject to special monitoring. They are also banned from activities involving narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, arms and ammunition and explosives, for five years.

Authorities in Belarus have equated criticism, solidarity, advocacy, free media and free expression to extremism and terrorism.