Since 2021, when Belarus’s Criminal Code gained Article 361-4 on “facilitating extremist activity,” courts have convicted at least 1,083 people. Among them — 252 women, according to the human rights center Viasna in a 14 September repression chronicle. Dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s regime turned a vague statute into a universal tool: talk to independent media, help a political prisoner, or photograph a truck column — and you can be next.
What the article says
Article 361-4 was introduced in 2021 — after the crushing of the 2020 protests, when the authorities expanded the Criminal Code’s “anti-extremist” block. On paper it covers recruitment, involvement, training, and “other facilitation” of extremist activity. In practice, “other facilitation” is stretched to cover whatever security services decide to criminalize.
Penalties range from restriction of liberty to seven years in a colony. Part 1: restriction of liberty for up to four years, or imprisonment from two to six years. Part 2 (repeat offense, group, or an official using their position): restriction from two to five years, or imprisonment from three to seven. Even district prosecutors spell this out in “explanatory” notes — for example the Kobryn prosecutor’s office separately lists photos and videos, reposts, comments, and interviews with “extremist” outlets.
What people are actually tried for
Human rights defenders document prosecutions for interviews with independent media, sharing information with rights groups, helping political prisoners, cooperating with entities labeled “extremist formations,” and sending photos or videos of military equipment. In a Novy Chas chronicle citing Viasna, even attending open court hearings is named — if the person then shared what they saw.
In 2024 a pro-security Telegram channel announced the first criminal case for reposting an “extremist” post. Lawyers interviewed by Mediazona Belarus noted that the statute is deliberately built to “cover anything.” An administrative fine for “extremist materials” and a criminal case under 361-4 often differ not by the act itself, but by political will.
The Hajun case — a mass conveyor
A separate wave of verdicts came from the “Hajun case.” The monitoring project Belarusian Hajun tracked movements of Russian and Belarusian military hardware. In early February 2025, security forces gained access to the project’s bot chat — and detentions began nationwide of people who had ever sent messages or photos.
As of 14 September 2026, Viasna reported at least 231 convictions in that case, with 81 political prisoners still behind bars. On 9 September, rights defenders spoke of 234 confirmed verdicts; since the start of 2026 the Interior Ministry has added hundreds of people convicted of “facilitation” to its “extremists” list — most tied to Hajun. Courts stamp out cases almost daily: “home chemistry” is common, but prison sentences also happen.
Nasha Niva reviewed July–October 2025 sentences: one message — Part 1; several — Parts 1 and 2. Women more often receive home-based restriction of liberty — but that is not “leniency.” It is the “extremist” label, bans, fear, and a broken life.
The numbers climb year after year
The cumulative figure of 1,083 is a confirmed minimum. For comparison: in 2024 Human Constanta recorded 109 verdicts under 361-4; in 2025, per Viasna’s summary, already 274 people. In the last three months alone, 135 people convicted under this article were added to the police “extremists” list.
The logic is simple: the longer the lists of “extremist formations,” the wider the trap. Helping Viasna, a letter to a colony, a donation, an interview, a photo of a column — any of it can become an episode of “facilitation.” The dictatorship is not looking for a crime. It is looking for obedience.