Belarus Declares Deutsche Welle's Belarusian Service 'Extremist', Bans Operations

The Belarusian government intensifies crackdown on free speech by targeting the German broadcaster, risking severe penalties for any association with it.

• Belarusian authorities have banned all activities of Deutsche Welle's Belarusian service, labeling it as an 'extremist' organization.
• The ban includes severe consequences, with potential seven-year prison sentences for those producing or disseminating the broadcaster's content.
• Deutsche Welle's director general condemned the accusations, asserting they are baseless and misrepresent the service's work.
• The ban is part of a broader effort to suppress dissent in Belarus, where the government has already labeled 199 organizations as 'extremist'.
• This action comes amid a backdrop of ongoing repression in Belarus, including the jailing of journalists and suppression of opposition since the disputed 2020 elections.

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