TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Monday declared that the Belarusian service of the German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle is an “extremist” organization and banned all its activities in the country.
The declaration means anyone working with Deutsche Welle producing content for the Belarusian service potentially faces a seven-year prison sentence. Anyone who reads and reposts articles by Deutsche Welle could be found guilty of an administrative or criminal offense.
Peter Limbourg, Deutsche Welle’s director general, criticized the decision, saying the accusations are “unfounded” and do not reflect the true nature of the Belarusian service’s work.
Belarusian authorities have already named 199 organizations as “extremist” and they use the label to suppress dissent in the country. The list includes the Belarusian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the independent Belarusian TV channel Belsat, broadcasting in the Belarusian language from the Polish capital Warsaw.
FAU's Vladislav Goldin to join Dusty May at Michigan, pulls name out of NBA draft
Senior CPC official stresses protection, inheritance of cultural heritage
China's top legislature to review draft amendment to Criminal Law targeting bribers
Xi stresses development of new productive forces, high
Uzbekistan and Japan qualify for men's Olympic soccer by reaching U23 Asian Cup final
Book on Xi's discourses on China's manufacturing strength published
A Michigan man and his dog are rescued from an inland lake's icy waters
Craze for Masters gnomes grows. The little golf
Jason Kelce will join ESPN’s 'Monday Night Countdown,' AP source says
Jennifer Aniston, 55, and Reese Witherspoon, 48, both stun in chic all
Dead infant found at Florida university campus; police investigating
Wrexham gains promotion to English soccer's third division after 6