January 2026
According to official statistics, as of the beginning of 2026, 1,337 public associations remained registered, which is 60 fewer than at the beginning of 2025.
Participants of the “Honest People” initiative were sentenced in absentia to imprisonment for terms ranging from 8 to 10 years and substantial fines.
Aleh Larychau, organizer of the Urban Myths festival, public activist and street artist, was detained.
Human rights defender Elena Tonkacheva, a citizen of the Russian Federation who has lived in Belarus for more than 35 years, was detained and questioned by the KGB. Following an unsuccessful attempt to recruit her, she was expelled to the Russian Federation without being given an opportunity to collect her personal belongings.
Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the Rights of the Child” entered into force, significantly restricting children’s right to freedom of association.
A separate decree “On Support for the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM)” was adopted. Its provisions clearly demonstrate unequal legislative treatment and preferential support for one public association compared to other non-profit organizations. The areas of expenditure financed for BRSM under the decree are not publicly disclosed and are classified as “for official use only”.
The organization Free Belarus Center, which provides legal, psychological and humanitarian assistance to Belarusians in Ukraine and Poland, was designated as an extremist formation.
A number of civil society organizations’ information materials were recognized as extremist materials, including those of Belarus PEN, the campaign “No to the Death Penalty in Belarus”, and information resources of diaspora associations.
1,223 non-profit organizations in Belarus are in the process of forced liquidation, and 772 NPOs have made the decision to voluntarily dissolve.
February 2026
Mass detentions of book publishers and distributors took place. Andrei Kim, cultural manager and founder of the “Kinakong” project, one of the best-known initiatives promoting Belarusian-language dubbing of international films, was detained. Searches and detentions were also conducted in Belarusian cultural spaces.
Four alleged members of the “extremist formation” BYSOL were sentenced to imprisonment for terms ranging from two to three years. According to law enforcement authorities, they had acted as couriers for the organization.
A criminal case was initiated in connection with the activities of the charitable foundation “Help for Seriously Ill Children”. According to the investigation, the foundation’s director exercised sole control over the organization, managed its assets and used funds collected for the treatment of seriously ill children for personal purposes.
A number of information materials produced by civil society organizations (CSOs) were recognized as extremist materials, including materials of the organizations and projects Nation of Leaders Online Hub, Press Club Belarus, Belarus PEN, FreeViasna, Ethnocentre Sviatanak, Human Constanta, and others.
The Belarusian publishing house Gutenberg Publisher, the youth organization “Likhtar”, and the public cultural campaign “Budzma Belarusami!” (“Let’s Be Belarusians!”), aimed at strengthening Belarusian national identity, were designated as extremist formations.
1,235 non-profit organizations in Belarus are in the process of forced liquidation, and 777 NPOs have made the decision to voluntarily dissolve.
March 2026
The campaign of pressure against charitable organizations and their discreditation in state media continued. During a broadcast on ONT, it was announced that the authorities were considering initiating a criminal case against the management of one of the institutions undergoing forced liquidation — the social charitable institution “KinderVita”.
The Investigative Committee once again warned Belarusians about potential criminal liability for participation in Freedom Day events on 25 March. The Operational and Analytical Centre temporarily restricted access within Belarus to a number of internet resources hosted abroad from 20:00 on 24 March until 08:00 on 26 March, citing a “threat of destructive influence in cyberspace”.
The Law “On Public Associations” was amended to provide that, after creditors’ claims have been satisfied, the funds and other property of a liquidated public association shall be transferred to state ownership.
A number of information materials produced by civil society organizations (CSOs) were recognized as extremist materials, including materials of Human Constanta, the project “Geta Baza”, “Belarusian Christian Democracy”, diaspora initiatives, and international human rights organizations — the International Society for Human Rights and the Human Rights House Foundation.
The human rights organization Human Constanta; Belarus PEN; the coalition of publishing initiatives “Kamunikat.org Foundation”, “Lohvinau Publishing House”, and “Andrei Yanushkevich Publishing”; Belarusians of Valencia community; the “Northern Lights” film festival; the Spadchyna Belarusi (Heritage of Belarus) Foundation; and the civic development foundation “Nation of Leaders” were designated as extremist formations..
1,239 non-profit organizations in Belarus are in the process of forced liquidation, and 781 NPOs have made the decision to voluntarily dissolve.
April 2026
Public activist and member of the “For Freedom” movement Viktar Yaumenenka , as well as human rights defender and public activist from Mahiliou, Uladzimir Tseliapun, were detained. Charges against Tseliapun included Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activities).
A criminal case was initiated against officials of the local charitable foundation “Miracle for Children” (registered in June 2024) on allegations of fraud on an especially large scale.
The KGB conducted a series of searches and detentions targeting individuals associated with socio-cultural organizations and initiatives. During the investigative actions, questions were raised regarding the receipt of foreign funding by organizations.
A number of information materials produced by civil society organizations (CSOs) were recognized as extremist materials, including materials of diaspora associations (for example, “Belarusians in Oxford,” “Belarus RAZAM Berlin,” “Belarusians in Greece,” and others).
The human rights organization Belarusian Helsinki Committee; the Belarusian Council for Culture and affiliated projects; the organization «ІншыЯ» / “The Others”; the youth educational initiative “Geta Baza”; the platform “Three Elephants”; SVAE app (a rebranding of the “New Belarus” platform); Initiative to support political prisoners «Вольныя» (English: “Free People”); “Center for New Ideas”; «Fundacja Brama Dziedzictwa»; “Belarusian Investigative Center”; Electoral lists for the Coordination Council elections. were designated as extremist formations.
The European Humanities University and the Swedish International Liberal Centre Foundation were designated as extremist organizations by court decisions.
1,240 non-profit organizations in Belarus are in the process of forced liquidation, and 782 NPOs have made the decision to voluntarily dissolve.
May 2026
A sentence was handed down for alleged assistance to the “Dapamoga” (Help) initiative in organizing the departure from Belarus of individuals subjected to persecution in politically motivated cases. The sentence imposed was 5 years and 6 months of imprisonment and a substantial fine.
New criminal cases were initiated against former political prisoners who had been forcibly expelled from Belarus — activist Pavel Seviarynets and human rights defender of the Human Rights Centre Viasna, Uladzimir Labkovich.
Mass searches were carried out at the homes of relatives of activists forced to reside abroad, reportedly in connection with their participation in events marking Freedom Day. Searches were also conducted at the homes of relatives of individuals standing for election to the Coordination Council.
A number of information materials produced by civil society organizations (CSOs) were recognized as extremist materials, including materials related to the projects FreeViasna, Kryly Khalopa Theatre, Green Phone, Food Not Bombs, and Green Portal.
1,244 non-profit organizations in Belarus are in the process of forced liquidation, and 787 NPOs have made the decision to voluntarily dissolve.