← What you can be punished for online: a map of offences

Belarus: lists and articles

The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.

КоАП РБ 19.11

Distributing or storing 'extremist materials'

For what: Subscribing to a channel or group on the national list of 'extremist materials' or to a resource of an 'extremist formation'; a repost; forwarding a link, even in private messages; a like; a screenshot or file on the phone; traces in search history. Each repost can be a separate protocol, so 15-day arrests can follow one another. An old subscription counts as a continuing offence. The materials list has over 10,000 entries.

Penalty: Administrative. Part 1 (materials with calls to extremism): fine up to 20 base units with confiscation. Part 2 (materials on the national list): fine of 10 to 30 base units, community work or up to 15 days of arrest, with confiscation; in practice the phone is confiscated as an 'instrument'. Deadline: within 1 year of the offence, or of discovery for a continuing one (art. 7.6 of the Belarus CAO, current wording).

Practice and how people are found

Viasna: at least 2,000 people were penalised under 19.11 in 2024 (incomplete). Almost all administrative 'extremism' cases in 2025 concerned subscriptions (Human Constanta). The court decisions database is closed, so there is no national figure for 2025 and 2026; in one Grodno court cases fell threefold in two years, from 332 to 87 (according to the judge).

Vitebsk region, 2025: 10 days of arrest for subscriptions to 10 'banned' resources. 2026: a man said he had subscribed years ago and forgotten; a fine of 30 base units (the maximum) and confiscation of his smartphone. Minsk, June 2026: a university employee got 15 days for a screenshot of an independent outlet's Telegram channel on his phone.

Phone checks at the border (messengers, social media, subscriptions and likes are checked daily at crossings), on arrest; complaints (in one case a person drew police attention to his own subscriptions); monitoring. People detained on entry are usually tried under 19.11.

УК РБ 361-1

Creating or taking part in an 'extremist formation'

For what: Taking part in a group designated an 'extremist formation' (independent media, initiatives, local chats). Formally a subscriber to a 'formation' resource can be treated as a 'participant'. People are punished even for activity before the designation. Admins of local Telegram chats are targeted most.

Penalty: Criminal. Creating or leading: 3 to 7 years. Taking part (part 3, 'joining in order to commit an extremist crime'): restricted liberty up to 4 years or 2 to 6 years. Limitation: 10 years for part 1, 5 years for part 3.

Practice and how people are found

As of May 2026 the list of 'extremist formations and organisations' had 365 entries (Nasha Niva). In January to March 2026, 38 people convicted under 361-1 were added to the 'extremists list'. In the 'courtyard chats' case at least 50 people were convicted, 46 got 2 to 10 years; the main charge became art. 357 ('conspiracy') rather than 361-1 (Human Constanta, Nasha Niva citing Viasna). As of March 2023 no cases for a subscription alone were recorded.

The 'courtyard chats' case: members of 2020 local chats were tried for 'conspiracy', terms of up to 10 years.

Seized phones of admins and members, exported member lists of chats.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, arts. 361-1, 83 (pravo.by); Belarus Law on Countering Extremism: who designates 'formations'; Human Constanta, 06.03.2023 (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta, 2025 (III квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Nasha Niva, 01.04.2026 (extremist in Belarus); Nasha Niva, 06.05.2026 (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 361-4 / 361-2

'Assisting extremist activity' and financing it

For what: Any interaction with a 'formation': interviews and comments to independent media, photos or videos sent to their bot or channel (for example of military vehicles), a message asking for help, taking part in rallies abroad. A donation of any size to a 'formation', even one made before the designation: 361-2.

Penalty: Criminal. 361-4 part 1 (recruiting, training, 'other assistance'): restricted liberty up to 4 years or 2 to 6 years; part 2 (repeat, group): up to 7 years. 361-2 (money or property 'knowingly to support extremist activity'): arrest, restricted liberty up to 5 years or 3 to 5 years; repeat or group 5 to 8 years. Limitation: 5 years for part 1 of both, 10 years for part 2.

Practice and how people are found

In January to March 2026, 235 people convicted under 361-4 were added to the 'extremists list'. The Belarusian Hajun case (messages to a bot about military vehicles): at least 183 confirmed defendants, unofficially up to 1,500 (Human Constanta, 2026). After solidarity rallies abroad, hundreds of emigrants were charged in absentia under 361-4 (2025).

Bobruisk, 2025: a woman detained under 361-4 for a video of military vehicles sent to an 'extremist resource'. 2025: a former political prisoner messaged Viasna on Telegram about help leaving the country and got a new sentence. People detained over donations are pressed to pay the state 10 times the amount (for 'extremists') or 100 times (for 'terrorists').

Police obtained the data of everyone who wrote to the Hajun bot via an invite link on a detained admin's phone. Phone checks, photos from rallies abroad.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, arts. 361-2, 361-4 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta, 2025 (III квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta, 2025 (II квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta, 06.03.2023 (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 361

Calls for sanctions or other acts harming national security, or distributing such materials

For what: Comments and posts supporting sanctions, calls to 'fight the regime', spreading material with such calls. Online this is part 3 at once, 4 to 12 years.

Penalty: Criminal. Part 1: restricted liberty up to 5 years or prison up to 6 years. Part 2 (calls addressed to a foreign state or organisation): 3 to 10 years. Part 3 (via media or the internet): 4 to 12 years. 'Distributing materials' containing such calls is also punishable. Limitation: 5 years for part 1, 10 years for parts 2 and 3.

Practice and how people are found

In January to March 2026, 6 people convicted under art. 361 were added to the 'extremists list' (Human Constanta).

Gomel, 2026: 3 years under 361 and five other 'extremist' articles for critical Telegram comments made from an account containing her personal data.

Accounts carrying personal data, monitoring, seized phones.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, art. 361 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 130

Inciting racial, national, religious or other social enmity

For what: Critical comments in messengers and social media about police, security forces and authorities 'as a group', online criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine. Often together with 367 to 369.

Penalty: Criminal, no administrative stage. Part 1: fine, arrest, restricted liberty or prison up to 5 years. Part 2 (with violence or by an official): 3 to 10 years. Part 3 (by a group or with grave consequences): 5 to 12 years. By law a 'social group' includes a profession, so the article is used for words about police and officials. Limitation: 5 years for part 1, 10 years for parts 2 and 3.

Practice and how people are found

In January to March 2026, 29 people convicted under 130 were added to the 'extremists list'. Part 1 has a 5-year limitation, so people who commented in 2020 and early 2021 should be released from liability (Human Constanta).

A typical trigger per Human Constanta: 2020 comments about security forces at the protests.

Monitoring of old comments, seized phones, border checks.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, art. 130 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 367 / 368

Defaming or insulting the President of Belarus (including a former one) and family

For what: Comments criticising Lukashenko or 'insulting' him, usually written years ago. Even a like: on Odnoklassniki a liked post appears as a repost, and a court treated it as distribution. Police found a ten-year-old like during 'routine monitoring' and opened a case.

Penalty: Criminal. 367 part 1 (defamation in public or online): fine, correctional labour up to 2 years, restricted liberty up to 4 years or prison up to 5 years; part 2 (repeat): up to 6 years. 368 part 1 (public insult): fine, labour, arrest, restricted liberty or prison up to 4 years; part 2: up to 5 years. By law an 'insult' is humiliating honour and dignity 'in an indecent form'. Limitation 5 years.

Practice and how people are found

368 is often combined with 369. The statements are usually several years old (Human Constanta, 2026).

Mogilev, 2026: a bus driver was convicted under 367 for likes on Odnoklassniki.

Police 'routine internet monitoring', phone checks.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, arts. 367, 368 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 369

Insulting a representative of the authorities

For what: A negative comment about a specific official, judge or police officer, often about human rights abuses. Negativity about security forces as a group is charged under 130.

Penalty: Criminal. Insulting an official or their relatives in connection with their duties, in public or online: fine, arrest, restricted liberty up to 3 years with a fine, or prison up to 3 years with a fine. Limitation 5 years.

Practice and how people are found

No verified national figure for 2025 and 2026; the article is often combined with 368 (Human Constanta).

No separate verified examples.

Monitoring, phone checks.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, art. 369 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2025 (III квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 369-1

'Discrediting the Republic of Belarus'

For what: Publishing any information that contradicts the official line: security services treat it as 'knowingly false'.

Penalty: Criminal. 'Knowingly false information' about the country, state bodies or the army, in public or online, 'aimed at causing substantial harm': arrest, restricted liberty up to 4 years or prison up to 4 years. Limitation 5 years.

Practice and how people are found

In October to December 2025, 6 people convicted under 369-1 were added to the 'extremists list' (Human Constanta).

No verified anonymised examples for ordinary users.

Monitoring of publications.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, art. 369-1 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2026 (I квартал) (extremist in Belarus)

УК РБ 342

Organising or 'actively taking part' in acts grossly violating public order

For what: Taking part in the 2020 protests. The online link: pro-government Telegram channels post photos and videos of marches and ask people to identify protesters; photos of protests in a phone cloud also trigger cases.

Penalty: Criminal. Part 1: arrest, restricted liberty of 2 to 5 years or prison up to 4 years. Part 2 (training, preparation, financing): arrest or up to 3 years. Not a speech offence, but 2020 protesters are identified from photos and videos online and in chats. Limitation 5 years from the event.

Practice and how people are found

The five-year limitation for 2020 events has expired, so some charges are being requalified under art. 293 ('mass riots'), which has a longer limitation (Human Constanta, 2025).

2025: pro-government channels posted march photos from Grodno, Byaroza, Zhodino and Baranovichi, asking people to identify participants.

Photos and videos online, phone clouds, the 'BESporyadki' database.

More: Belarus Criminal Code, art. 342 (pravo.by); Human Constanta, 2025 (III квартал) (extremist in Belarus); Reform.news (citing Viasna), 14.02.2025 (extremist in Belarus)