KGB brands people’s embassies “extremist” group

March 4, Pozirk. The Committee for State Security (KGB) on February 28 blacklisted the opposition people’s embassies as an “extremist” group, according to the updated list on the interior ministry’s website.

The founders of online communities, administrators and other social media users who identify themselves as Belarusians abroad are engaged in extremist activities, the KGB charged.

The KGB listed belarusabroad.org and belaruscongress.org, the Biełarusy Zamiežža Telegram and YouTube channels as well as Al’jans Rassledovatelej Belarusi (Alliance of Belarus’ Investigators) as communities affiliated with the group.

On February 12, the people’s embassies said hackers attacked belarusabroad.org. No personal data leaks were recorded, but hackers reportedly gained access to passwords for administering the website.

Dating back to 2020, the people’s embassies represents Belarusian volunteers and former Belarusian diplomats who resigned in protest against the 2020 rigged presidential election.

The embassies operate in more than 20 countries, advocating for Belarusians who cannot receive services from official diplomatic missions.

On March 1, the interior ministry also blacklisted the Telegram community Žyvie Vitebsk 97% as an “extremist” group.

It identified Arciom Skuman and the channel’s founders, administrators and followers as members of the group. Two days later, the ministry added to its list the participants and administrators of Eto Minsk, Detka online community, including thisminsk.org and social media accounts linked to Tutejšy Šlachcič and Eto Minsk, Detka.