Belarus' opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned Minsk's decision to designate Euronews' news coverage on its website as “extremist” content on Friday, describing it as a “shameful” attempt by Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s government to cut Belarusians off from its factual and independent reporting.
“Lukashenka’s regime has branded Euronews, a leading European news platform, ‘extremist’ for bringing the truth to millions of Belarusians,” she wrote in a post on X.
“This attacks media freedom and turns viewers into targets of repression,” she added, urging the broadcaster to “stay strong” and underlining that: “your work matters.”
Earlier this week the Belarusian information ministry placed Euronews’ website on its "Republican List of Extremist Materials," according to Belarus-based media. The ruling is subject to immediate execution under Belarusian civil procedure rules.
The decision means access to the Euronews website will now be restricted in Belarus, while readers could face administrative penalties for storing or distributing its content. The broadcaster said the designation risks criminalising its audience as well as limiting access to its factual journalism.
