{"id":127375,"date":"2025-02-22T14:42:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T11:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/127375\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-15000-online-outlets-blacklisted-in-belarus-since-2020","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/127375\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: 15,000 online outlets blacklisted in Belarus since 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Briefly: Journalist accused of extremism on trial in Minsk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children’s oncologist convicted on protest-related charges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zianon Pa\u017aniak\u2019s Volnaja Bie\u0142aru\u015b branded \u201cextremist\u201d group<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brest orchestra conductor persecuted for sharing banned content<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 22, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on February 21 as journalist Ihar Ilja\u0161 went on trial at the Minsk City Court. Charges against him include discrediting Belarus and facilitating extremism. He would face up to six years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His wife, journalist Kaciaryna Andrejeva, has been held behind bars since November 2020, after being arrested while covering an opposition protest. Andrejeva was later charged with high treason and given eight years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian officials blocked access to 15,150 online outlets for posting information that \u201ccontradicted the interests of the state,\u201d with some 2,200 blocked last month before the presidential vote, SB. Belarus Segodnya<\/em> reported, citing Information Minister Marat Marka\u016d. Last year, about 3,000 information items were branded extremist, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Ku\u016d\u0161ynnika\u016d, symphonic orchestra conductor from Brest, was tried for sharing banned content, the Vitebsk, Ya Gulayu. Novosti Vitebska<\/em> Telegram channel reported. The sentence remains unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Kanstancina\u016d was tried in Viciebsk for alleged violations of electoral legislation, the same channel said. The sentence is also unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criminal proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Minsk found children’s oncologist Alena \u0160arafanovi\u010d guilty of violent disorder, a charge routinely used in Belarus to persecute regime critics. She may have been given a non-custodial sentence, Na\u0161a Niva <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judges in Belarus sentenced 29 minors on similar charges in 2024, six more than a year earlier, Pozirk <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExtremist\u201d register updates<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interior ministry announced an extremist group designation for the Volnaja Bie\u0142aru\u015b political initiative led by Zianon Pa\u017aniak, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s longtime rival, taking the total on the extremist group register to 262.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government also added 21 new names to its list of people that is considers to be involved in \u201cextremist activities,\u201d Pozirk<\/em> reported. All these persons were convicted on charges that authorities use to persecute their opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of February 22, human rights defenders identified at least 1,216 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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