On February 28, the Belarusian KGB recognized BAJ as an "extremist formation".

In Belarus, the organization was liquidated in August 2021.

BAJ lawyer Oleg Ageev explained how BAJ will work now.

"For us, this is a reason to rethink what we do to keep people safe.

The status of an extremist under Belarusian legislation is formulated in such a way that it can be extended to almost any person.

We see how organizations already recognized as "extremist formations" have problems.

This is not the first case with such a status for organizations and activities.

Now we need to figure out how to continue working with this status," says Oleg Ageev.

BAJ was recognized as an "extremist formation" precisely because the authorities had previously eliminated its legal status as an organization.

If it was, it would be recognized as an "extremist organization."

"Belarusian authorities do not act by legal mechanisms and use them very arbitrarily.

The danger has become greater, but it is not clear what it will lead to," adds Oleg Ageev.

The Belarusian authorities recognized a number of organizations, mass media and even some musical groups, as well as Telegram channels, social networks and other united groups, as "extremist formations".

The Belarusian Association of Journalists is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-partisan association of citizens engaged in professional journalistic activity or contributing to its development.

The association has been active since the fall of 1995, and in 2006 it underwent state re-registration.