Affiliated media: Narodnya Naviny Vitsebska , Online media outlet

Incident date: January 13, 2025

Attack type:

• Shutting down a media outlet / blocking an Internet site/ seizure of an entire print run

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Vitebsk

Additional information:

The Oktyabrsky District Court of Vitebsk has recognised the regional website “Narodnya Naviny Vitsebska” (vitebsk.cc and viciebsk.cc) as extremist informational material. The YouTube channel and social media pages affiliated with this outlet were also declared extremist. On 13 January, based on the court’s decision, the Belarusian Ministry of Information added these online resources to the “Republican List of Extremist Materials”. On the same day, the editorial team was forced to cease its activities. Under Belarusian law, the distribution and storage of materials designated as extremist carries administrative liability for both publishers and users. “Narodnya Naviny Vitsebska” was one of the oldest non-state media resources in the region, having operated for more than 17 years.