{"id":128707,"date":"2025-03-05T15:17:27","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T12:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/128707\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"kgb-brands-two-media-initiatives-education-project-as-extremist-groups","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/128707\/","title":{"rendered":"KGB brands two media initiatives, education project as extremist groups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 5, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>The Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB) branded the Lithuania-based Democratic Media Institute’s (DMI) team as an extremist group, the interior ministry’s website says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extremist designation, dating back to mid-January, includes alleged DMI members Maryja Budnik, Siarhiej Saciuk, Hieorhij Zahajna\u016d, Hanna Va\u0142yniec, D\u017amitryj Hamieza, Mikita Moni\u010d, D\u017amitryj Novika\u016d, Alaksandar Kuchta, pundit Andrej Kazakievi\u010d, analyst Jaras\u0142a\u016d Raman\u010duk, art critics Maksim \u017dbanko\u016d and Alaksandr \u010carnucha as well as and Lithuanian Germanas Bernotas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 2023, the DMI positions itself as a media hub and a knowledge center, focusing on cultivating a competitive and sustainable media environment in Europe and Eurasia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nastaunik.info<\/em> education project founded in 2005 as an exchange platform for teachers, was also blacklisted in January ahead of the extremist content designation for its social media pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The KGB identified Ludmi\u0142a Ryb\u010dynskaja, \u015aviat\u0142ana Ivaniu\u0161yna, Mika\u0142aj Zaprudski, Alena Kaz\u0142ova, Tamara Mackievi\u010d, Iryna Jafremkava and Maryna Zialonaja (Kalinina) as members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, the KGB blacklisted a group of people, including Iryna Bazylevi\u010d, Siarhiej Piatro\u016d, Ja\u016dhienija Patapava and Natalla \u0141antuch, linked to the Pra Viciebsk <\/em>local news community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many independent media outlets were branded extremist groups for political reasons in Belarus after the disputed 2020 presidential election. The official register has more than 260 entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities routinely use terrorism and extremism designations to silence critical voices. Association with an extremist group carries a penalty of two to seven years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"