Belarusian authorities are increasingly using broadly defined “extremism” laws to suppress dissent, including targeting individuals and organisations operating from exile. Human rights groups warn that these laws are being applied in a systematic and politically motivated manner to criminalize a wide range of peaceful activities, from academic engagement to civil society work.
One of the most recent actions occurred on April 14, when the Belarusian Supreme Court labelled the Lithuania-based European Humanities University an “extremist organisation,” accusing it of destabilising the country’s sociopolitical environment. This designation potentially exposes thousands of students, alumni, and faculty—many of them Belarusian—to criminal prosecution for past or current academic involvement, even before the ruling was issued.
Since the start of 2026, authorities have expanded this approach by declaring at least 23 additional groups as “extremist formations.” These include political opposition networks, independent media outlets, and even private communication groups supporting families of political prisoners, significantly broadening the scope of repression.
Several prominent human rights organisations have also been targeted. In February, PEN Belarus was designated an extremist formation, with its social media accounts added to official banned lists. In March, Human Constanta, a rights group focused on migrants and digital freedoms, was similarly labelled, along with individuals linked to it. Shortly after, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee was also banned, with its websites and communication channels blocked.
Human rights organisations have strongly condemned these actions, stating that Belarus’s extremism legislation is intentionally vague and has long been used to silence critics, including those living outside the country. Over the past five years, more than 1,000 individuals have reportedly been prosecuted under such charges, highlighting the scale of ongoing repression.
Observers note that despite occasional political prisoner releases, the continued expansion of extremist designations indicates that systemic repression remains in place. Rights groups are urging international actors, including the United States and the European Union, to prioritize ending human rights violations in any future engagement with Belarusian authorities.
