Social media and website of Viasna Homieĺ branch deemed ‘extremist’
The human rights website Homieĺskaja Viasna, a Telegram channel of the same name, and social media pages on Facebook, Odnoklassniki, YouTube, and @Homiel_Bot chatbot were added to the updated list of ‘extremist’ media by the decision of the KGB of August 9 “On recognizing a group of citizens as an extremist formation and banning its activities.”
The decision names former journalist Larysa Shchyrakova as the resources' owner. Shchyrakova is currently on trial in Homieĺ for a number of protest articles. She publicly resigned as a journalist and made a living by organizing ethnic photo sessions. She also started studying psychology.
Earlier in June, the Facebook page of Homieĺ Spring, which does not actually exist, was recognized as ‘extremist production.’ Meanwhile, the Telegram channel “Viasna/human rights in Belarus” and other social media of Viasna were recognized as extremist materials in December 2021 by the Čyhunačny District Court of Homieĺ.
Homieĺskaja Viasna is a human rights website of Homieĺ and Homieĺ region, which has been covering the activities of the Homieĺ branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center for 10 years. The media covers exclusively human rights topics, and violations of human rights (not only civil and political, but also socio-economic, cultural, and environmental). It regularly publishes information on how to protect and assert your rights.
