{"id":170995,"date":"2026-01-09T11:12:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T08:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/170995\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-opposition-supporters-keep-risking-extremist-and-terrorist-designations-in-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/170995\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: opposition supporters keep risking extremist and terrorist designations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January 9, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus from January 6 to 8, with new extremist and terrorist designations that Belarusian authorities keep using to persecute their political opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official register of extremist content now includes an Instagram page by Siamion Bukin, a Belarusian athlete at French Cirque du Soleil with some 9,000 followers, and rezhim_dnya<\/em> on Tik Tok, Pozirk <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials also blacklisted Raman Jurko\u016d, Andrej Sudzibor, Jahor \u017dyburt, Alaksiej La\u016dkievi\u010d, Mika\u0142aj Luckievi\u010d and Pavie\u0142 \u0160arko as \u201cterrorists,\u201d taking the total of entries on the register to 1,402, including 664 Belarusians, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Rights groups added Luckievi\u010d and \u0160arko to the list of political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate development, the National Bank of Belarus adopted a regulation barring opponents of the government from holding key positions in commercial banks, Pozirk<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customs officials’ case<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DissidentBy reported lengthy prison sentences for three customs officials passed in 2024. They faced numerous charges, including high treason. Ja\u016dhien Hurynovi\u010d, Viktar Novik and U\u0142adzimir \u017duromski are now serving terms ranging from 12 to 13.5 years in prison. Rights groups consider their persecution to be politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurynovi\u010d was reportedly assigned the status of a person with disabilities following a beating by law enforcers. He had to use a wheelchair and crutches for a while as he was not able to walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 1,990 NGOs, including associations, trade unions and foundations, were dissolved between the 2020 presidential election and December 31, Lawtrend said in a recent report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities released blogger Pavie\u0142 Spiryn after he had served four and a half years in prison, given on charges of inciting hatred, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 28, the Minsk City Court will open a trial against five Belarusian volunteers of the Kastu\u015b Kalino\u016dski Regiment (KKR), which fights Russia alongside Ukrainian forces, without the defendants being present, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vadzim Kaban\u010duk, the regiment\u2019s former deputy commander who now represents the opposition tansitional cabinet on defense and security issues; Alaksiej Kaval\u010duk, an assault trooper at the Vo\u0142at unit; regiment instructor Alaksiej Nazara\u016d; former Commander Dzianis Prochara\u016d; and Pavie\u0142 \u0160urmiej, a member of the command, face serious charges, including terrorism and conspiracy to seize power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of January 9, human rights defenders identified at least 1,124 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because of many undocumented cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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