Threads account also labelled “extremist”
LIBERECO’s account on the social media platform Threads has now also been labelled as “extremist” by the Belarusian authorities. This has no practical implications for our work.
On 27 March, the Baranovichi District and City Court added LIBERECO’s account on the social media platform Threads to the Republic of Belarus’s “list of extremist materials”. The regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko had already classified our accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) as “extremist” in September 2024.
In Belarus, courts do not act independently. The label has no practical implications for LIBERECO’s work. It primarily serves the Belarusian authorities as a further means of repression against domestic critics. People who follow our accounts, share our posts or interact with us could face fines or short prison sentences as a result.
“Extremism” label as a tool of repression
We therefore advise everyone in Belarus and those travelling there to unfollow LIBERECO on Threads, Instagram and X and to delete any posts shared or liked from us.
Since the brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in August 2020, the Lukashenko regime has repeatedly branded independent media, civil society organisations and citizens’ initiatives as “extremist”. All of LIBERECO’s Belarusian partner organisations have already been given this label.