Affiliated media: Instagram-account "belarus_files" , Instagram-account

Incident date: January 28, 2025

Attack type:

• Selective application of repressive laws

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Baranovichi

Additional information:

The Baranovichi District Court and the city of Baranovichi has designated the Instagram account titled belarus_files, run by a team of journalists from the media project Belarusian Investigative Centre, as extremist information material. The case was heard by Judge Sviatlana Snezko. The proceedings were initiated by the Baranovichi Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office. On the basis of the court’s ruling, the Ministry of Information of Belarus added the online resource to the “Republican List of Extremist Materials”. Under Belarusian law, the distribution and possession of materials recognised as extremist entail administrative liability for both publishers and users.