Local newspaper, social media accounts declared extremist content

April 12, BPN. A district court in Minsk on April 7 labeled the content of privately-owned newspaper Rehijanalnaja Hazieta, based in Maładziečna, Minsk region, as extremist. The decision has been added to the information ministry’s online register.

Rehijanalnaja Hazieta’s website and Telegram channel were declared extremist in January 2022.

On March 15, police detained the newspaper’s editor in chief Alaksandr Mancevič. He is charged with discrediting the Republic of Belarus. Human rights groups have declared him a political prisoner.

On April 11, a district court in Homiel attached the extremist label to a VK community dedicated to the Deti Khrushchevok rock band, its YouTube and Instagram pages, and songs “2020,” “Cockroach (Demo)” and “500 Dollars Each.”

On the same day, it blacklisted Telegram channel and bot Ruch.

A picture of a two-barred cross (Kryž Jaryły) decorated with a sword was also branded as extremist.