Belarus: on Stepan Putilo, a case was opened under an article on terrorism

The Investigative Committee of Belarus opened a case under an article on the organization of the activities of a terrorist organization in relation to representatives of the NexTA telegram channel Yana Rudik and Stepan Putilo. This was reported by BelTA.

The case file states that since 2020, "the above terrorists have repeatedly called for inciting social enmity and growth, blocking roads and coordination of street riots, committing railway terrorist attacks and diversions at enterprises that could lead to technogenic disasters."

The "extremist formation of NEXTA" is recognized in Belarus with a terrorist organization, its activities in the republic are prohibited.

On May 18, President Alexander Lukashenko signed a law that admits the measure of punishment in the form of a death penalty for attempted attacks . According to the "terrorist" articles in Belarus, cases against oppositionists are initiated. The defendant in such a case, including Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is the opponent of Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election.

• The Nexta channel has become widely known for the lighting of Belarusian protests in 2020. Its creators - Stepan Putilo and Roman Protasevich - harshly criticized the actions of police officers and personally the President of the Republic Alexander Lukashenko in relation to citizens. Both were included in the list of people involved in extremist activities, after which they left the country.
• Protasevich and his ex -girlfriend Sofya Sapega were arrested after an emergency landing of the Ryanair aircraft in May last year. Both were arrested in the case of organizing riots. Sapga on the camera admitted to the administration of another opposition channel, in which personal data of law enforcement officials were published.
• The Ryanair air spacer said that the aircraft landing was planned by the Belarusian special services. After that, the Western countries forbade their carriers to build routes through Belarus and limited the flights of Belarusian airlines.
• Some time after the arrest, Protasevich on the air of Belarusian television admitted to sane crimes and said that he wanted to live a normal, calm life. On July 25, he was sent under house arrest.
• On January 25, 2022, Protasevich came out of house arrest and announced the beginning of cooperation with the pro-government organization "System human rights".