Belarus declares Pozirk analyst’s accounts “extremist content”

August 1, Pozirk. The Horki District Court yesterday declared the Facebook page of Pozirk analyst Alaksandar Kłaskoŭski and his Telegram channel, Klaskouski, “extremist content,” according to the Ministry of Information website.

“The fact that the regime criminalizes the professional activities of journalists and analysts speaks to the regime’s own impairment,” the prominent exiled political analyst commented.

Pozirk was created in exile by journalists from BelaPAN, an independent media company that had been crushed by the government in 2021.

Minsk has declared both BelaPAN and Pozirk extremist groups.

Kłaskoŭski and four others suspected of links to Pozirk were added to a wanted list in Russia earlier this year.

The extremist content designation carries punishment of up to 15 days in jail for those found having such content on their mobile phones. Belarus’ security officers randomly check devices for banned media content. Belarus’ security agencies also have special units that examine accounts and posts for extremist content.

Also read: Russia puts Pozirk’s commentators on wanted list