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Belarusian authorities have designated the Belarusian Helsinki Committee as an “extremist formation.”

6.04.2026

In brief:
Any interaction with the organization (including social media engagement, seeking assistance, or participating in educational activities) may be considered a violation. There is a risk of criminal liability. The law is applied broadly and allows for arbitrary interpretation. If you have interacted with the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, please take steps to ensure your safety.

 

What happened?

The State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus (KGB) has designated the Belarusian Helsinki Committee as an “extremist formation” (decision No. 4/41-72 dated March 31, 2026).

The following resources were listed as affiliated:

 

What should you do?

In light of this decision, we urge users of our resources, individuals who have sought our assistance, participants in our educational activities, and our partners to take steps to ensure their own safety.

Practical recommendations on how to reduce risks are available from human rights organizations (also designated as so-called “extremist formations”):

Here is the text in English:

About the BHC

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) has been working for Belarus and its people for over 30 years. Over the years, the BHC has contributed to real change in the country on numerous occasions. Below are some examples that can be shared publicly.

→ The right of a witness to legal counsel

In 2018, the right of a witness to have a lawyer was enshrined in the Belarusian Code of Criminal Procedure. Previously, this right existed only in the Constitution and was frequently ignored in practice. The change was based on a Constitutional Court ruling issued following the BHC's petition in 2015.

→ Improved pension provisions for vulnerable groups

We worked extensively on the so-called "pension trap," or insurance record trap. In 2017, the situation for certain vulnerable groups was eased, in part due to our efforts.

→ Human rights — for everyone

While analyzing the pension trap issue, the BHC was among the first to point out that it affected not only vulnerable social groups, but also members of law enforcement agencies.

We emphasized that human rights are universal and cannot be divided by profession or political views. The protection of human dignity is a principle that must apply to every person.

→ The possibility of alternative civilian service

In 2016, Belarus introduced — albeit in a limited form — the option of alternative service for those who, on grounds of conscience, do not wish to serve bearing arms. Among other things, this change was based on a Constitutional Court ruling that followed a BHC petition dating back to 2000.

→ Adoption of the first National Human Rights Action Plan

The adoption of Belarus's first National Human Rights Action Plan (2016–2019) became possible in large part thanks to the BHC's efforts. It was the first time the state had publicly committed to a comprehensive set of human rights obligations.

→ In 2023–2025, we:

  • Prepared more than 30 reports and submissions to international mechanisms, either independently or in coalition with partners. We covered all major UN mechanisms with alternative reports: UPR, SDGs, CEDAW, and CERD.
  • Engaged 7 new Belarusian initiatives in working with international mechanisms.
  • Provided consultations to 42 Belarusian initiatives on the human rights-based approach and the functioning of international human rights mechanisms.
  • Delivered over 500 individual consultations to citizens.
  • Our analysis has been published by Cambridge University Press and cited by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In 2024, the Human Rights Index was recognized in the UN High Commissioner's Annual Report as an important tool for assessing the compliance of national laws, policies, and practices with international human rights standards.

We consider this decision to be politically motivated and intended to prevent us from defending human rights in Belarus.

 

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