Criminal cases have been initiated against the founders of the Nexta-Live Telegram channel Stepan Putilo and Roman Protasevich for organizing mass riots and inciting social enmity, the press service of the Investigative Committee of Belarus reports.
“According to the investigation, in relation to citizens of the Republic of Belarus S. Putilo and R. Protasevich, decisions were made to bring them to justice as accused of organizing mass riots and group actions that grossly violate public order – Art. 293, art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, ”the message says.
Also, a criminal case was initiated against the creators of Nexta under Part 3 of Art. 130 of the Criminal Code of Belarus in connection with “the commission of deliberate actions aimed at inciting social enmity on the basis of professional affiliation.” We are talking about inciting enmity through Telegram channels against government officials and law enforcement officers.
It is indicated that the investigation recorded repeated incidents of calls for protests, blocking roads, strikes, coordination of unauthorized mass events in Telegram channels controlled by Putilo and Protasevich.
The creators of Nexta were put on the interstate wanted list.
Earlier, the court of the Central District of Minsk recognized the Nexta-Live Telegram channel and its logo (digital watermark) as extremist materials, BelTA agency reported.
On August 9, presidential elections were held in Belarus. They were won by the current head of state Alexander Lukashenko. The opposition did not recognize these results and demanded new elections. On the night of August 10, protests began in Minsk and other regions of the country, which continue to this day.
