Rights groups: No proof Belarus eased border checks targeting independent media follow

A number of human rights defenders have not confirmed to Euroradio that Belarusian security forces have stopped detaining citizens for 24-hour periods when "extremist" subscriptions are found on their phones during border checks.

On July 11, "Nasha Niva" reported on changes in the repressive practices of security forces, citing several cases known to them. According to the publication, during inspections of mobile phones, people were found to have accidentally left subscriptions to independent media or accounts of political activists recognized by authorities as "extremist," and were subsequently taken to district police departments, where they received only an official warning. Apparently, this approach changed two months ago.

Previously, people were detained for 24-hour periods for such subscriptions, or could even face criminal charges.

"We have no such facts"

The human rights defenders contacted by Euroradio were unable to confirm the reported information.

Lawyer at the human rights center "Viasna" Pavel Sapelka declined to comment on the news, emphasizing that he knows nothing about it.

Human rights defender and former political prisoner Leanid Sudalenka admitted that the news surprised him.

"There is nothing to say, <...> because we have no such facts. Let us assume that 'Nasha Niva' wrote about an exception [to general practice. — Euroradio]," he reflected.

Human rights defender and representative of the dissidentby initiative Maryna Kasinerova cited insufficient information to draw conclusions.

"I cannot say whether these are isolated cases or systematic ones. Even if they are systematic, that would tell us little, because the situation with the legal climate needs to be considered in its entirety.

That is, perhaps instead of fines or 24-hour detentions, they may immediately open a case, or simply install various tracking applications on phones, or use it to recruit even more people. So I cannot say anything for now," Kasinerova noted.

Lawyer and deputy chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) Aleh Aheyeu urged people not to trust the reported information.

"Even if someone from government structures is spreading it, this could be an ordinary deception. Therefore, I would not rush to make a decision about returning to Belarus and crossing the border."

He added that they also have no such information, and was skeptical about the suggestion that repressive practices are allegedly being wound down.

"When looking at the capacity to carry out repressions, it remains intact to this day. The legislation has not changed, and all the legal norms that were in effect during the period of mass detentions remain in force to this day. Moreover, even the deterioration that occurred has not been reversed by anyone.

Therefore, it is truly necessary now to collect information, carry out monitoring, monitor the social media of people who cross the border and fall under these inspections at passport control, and to closely watch the situation," Aheyeu believes.

The lawyer advises people to prepare in advance for crossing the border, as before, and to delete dangerous subscriptions and likes. He urges everyone to follow all digital security rules when crossing the Belarusian border.