Belarus labels German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle ‘extremist,’ bans activities in the country
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.
Related articles
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
WALNUT, Calif. (AP) — Chase Dodd started swimming when he was just a kid. Once he began playing wate2024-05-21VOX POPULI: China remains same heartless nation as seen in grim 1984 film
The impression one gets from watching a film for the first time may keep drastically changing with e2024-05-21VOX POPULI: The war in Ukraine enters its 3rd year with no end in sight
On Feb. 24 exactly two years ago, acclaimed Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov was jolted awake by the b2024-05-21VOX POPULI: Radiation lingers even 70 years after H
How did the word “bikini” come to denote a two-piece swimsuit?On July 1, 1946, almost one year after2024-05-21Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
A long-planned series of Catholic pilgrimages has begun across the United States this weekend, with2024-05-21VOX POPULI: Some celebrate while others ponder time and space on leap day
When author Mizuki Tsujimura was in elementary school, her teacher said to her, “You are 8 years old2024-05-21
atest comment