Enacted legislation in Belarus aims to suppress perceived extremism, featuring new articles to bolster the nation's approach.
Update on Belarus' Tightened Legal Framework
Let's dive into the latest changes in Belarus' legal landscape, particularly focusing on extremism, mass events, and online activities, which have undergone significant shifts since 2020.
Extremism and Political Dissent
Belarusian authorities have increasingly targeted independent media, NGOs, and social channels, labeling them as "extremist formations." This crackdown has led to an extensive list of 5,088 individuals and 264 entities being associated with "extremist activities" by March 2025.
Moreover, a 2022 "special procedure" enabled trials without defendants present, including for extremism-related charges. The authorities even reintroduced criminalization, such as Article 193-1 in January 2022, which outlaws organizing or participating in unregistered organizations, including NGOs and religious groups.
Protests and Journalism
Journalists have faced harsh consequences for their reporting on protests. For instance, Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Daria Chultsova received 2-year sentences in February 2021 for livestreaming protests, with Andreyeva later facing an 8-year treason sentence in July 2022. Medical professionals, like Katsiaryna Barysevich and doctor Artsiom Sarokin, have also been convicted for reporting on protester Roman Bandarenka's fatal police beating in March 2021.
Online Censorship
Changes to media laws in June 2021 prohibited livestreaming unauthorized protests and criminalized content deemed to "discredit" the state. Independent media outlets have been systematically blocked under "extremist" designations, and sharing or commenting on designated "extremist materials" can lead to criminal charges.
Timeline of Key Legislation
- February 2021: Protester livestreaming trials begin
- June 2021: Media law amendments outlaw protest coverage
- January 2022: Article 193-1 criminalizes unregistered organizations
- 2022-2025: "Extremist" lists expand to 5,088 individuals and 264 entities
The framework reflects an escalating suppression of dissent, with laws retroactively applied to curb post-2020 election protests. It's crucial to stay informed about these developments to understand the evolving political landscape in Belarus.
- The sanctions against Belarus, imposed by international bodies, have become more stringent due to Lukashenko's tightened legal framework, particularly the requirements related to extremism, mass events, and online activities displayed in the general news and crime-and-justice sectors on Tuesday.
- The extensive list of individuals and entities labeled as "extremist formations" in Belarus currently stands at 5,088 individuals and 264 entities, a result of Lukashenko's ongoing crackdown on independent media, NGOs, and social channels.
- The display of political trials without defendants present, including for extremism-related charges, is a notable development in the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, as seen in Belarus' legal landscape since 2020.
- Journalists in Belarus continue to face harsh consequences for their reporting on protests, with instances like Katsiaryna Andreyeva's 8-year treason sentence in July 2022, a penalization that follows her initial 2-year sentence in February 2021 for livestreaming protests.
