Summoned by the KGB or police

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

Draft What human rights defenders advise

Summoned by the KGB or police for a 'talk'

First find out what it is: a 'preventive talk' or an interrogation. At an interrogation you have a procedural status and the right to a lawyer.
Viasna's lawyers advise saying as little as possible ('yes', 'no', 'I don't know') and not being drawn into a 'friendly' conversation.
Don't name people, chats or contacts of those who left. Expect your phone and Telegram to be inspected or photographed.
Sign the record of the talk only after reading it in full; you can state your disagreement with its wording in writing.
Discuss an offer to 'cooperate' with human rights defenders at once, but contact them from a device that is not checked. Note that contact with an 'extremist formation' from inside Belarus can in itself become grounds for a case. If you signed a non-disclosure pledge, discuss it with a lawyer once you are abroad. The recruitment attempt can later support an asylum claim.

Designations of organisations in this guide: Viasna Human Rights Centre (extremist in Belarus). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of 25 September 2026. More: Zerkalo: Viasna lawyer on 'preventive talks'; CityDog: KGB talks with students from Poland

Whom to contact

3 organisations

Viasna Human Rights Centre

Political persecution in Belarus: advice on detentions and summonses, political prisoner database, support for victims.

Any contact with the organisation from inside Belarus can lead to criminal charges. Use a device you won't take across the border.

The only official bot is @ViasnaSOS. It never asks for money or SMS codes.

Belarus and abroad extremist in Belarus contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026

Get in touch

In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: website · political prisoner database

@ViasnaSOS

Belarusian Helsinki Committee

Human rights organisation: monitoring, analysis and explainers on human rights in Belarus.

The organisation itself warns that any interaction with it from Belarus may be treated as an offence and lead to criminal liability.

abroad extremist in Belarus contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026

Get in touch

In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: contacts · help@belhelcom.org

belhelcom.org

Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)

Help for journalists and media workers: legal and material support, monitoring of persecution.

abroad extremist in Belarus contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026

Get in touch

In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: Telegram

baj.media

Summoned by the KGB or police