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In a disturbing trend across Belarus, state propaganda channels have increasingly become instruments of public intimidation, functioning as what many now call “denunciation factories.” These operations systematically target businesses, cultural venues, and individuals deemed insufficiently loyal to Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.
The pattern has become predictable: an anonymous complaint appears in a state-affiliated Telegram channel, complete with photos and accusations. Within days, the target faces inspections from tax authorities, police raids, or even imprisonment. This modern form of denunciation has destroyed countless livelihoods while reinforcing a climate of fear throughout the country.
“The mechanism is straightforward but brutally effective,” explains Hanna Liubakova, a Belarusian journalist now working from exile. “Someone sends information to a propaganda channel about a person or business they suspect of opposition sympathies. The channel publishes it, authorities act, and another piece of independent Belarus disappears.”
Recent victims include a small bookshop in Minsk that displayed works by authors critical of the government. After being featured on a state propaganda channel, the shop was raided within 48 hours. Authorities confiscated inventory, froze accounts, and arrested the owner on charges of “extremist activity.” The bookshop, which had operated for seven years, was permanently closed.
Similar fates have befallen art galleries, cafes, and small businesses across the country. An exhibition featuring contemporary Belarusian artists was shut down mid-showing after being labeled “ideologically harmful” on state media. The gallery owner faces criminal charges that could result in up to seven years imprisonment.
The economic impact extends beyond individual businesses. Entire sectors, particularly those associated with creative industries and independent thought, have been decimated. Since 2020, Belarus has lost over 300 independent cultural venues and businesses, according to estimates from human rights organizations.
“What we’re witnessing is the systematic dismantling of civil society through a crowd-sourced surveillance system,” says Pavel Slunkin, a former Belarusian diplomat now with the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The authorities have effectively deputized citizens to police each other, creating a society where anyone could be an informant.”
The practice bears unsettling similarities to Soviet-era denunciations, but with a modern twist. Today’s digital platforms allow for faster reporting, public shaming, and coordinated responses from authorities. Screenshots of private conversations, photographs taken surreptitiously, and recordings made without consent regularly feature in these denunciations.
Particularly troubling is the personal nature of many attacks. Individuals who previously participated in protests, signed petitions, or simply expressed support for democratic values find themselves publicly exposed. Their workplaces receive pressure to fire them, landlords are encouraged to evict them, and they face social isolation as friends and family distance themselves for fear of association.
One former IT specialist, speaking on condition of anonymity, described losing everything after being featured on a propaganda channel. “They published my photo, workplace, and even my children’s school. Within a week, I lost my job, and neighbors stopped speaking to me. Eventually, I had no choice but to leave the country.”
The psychological impact of this constant surveillance has been profound. Mental health professionals report increasing cases of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress among Belarusians. Many live in perpetual fear of being denounced, modifying their behavior and self-censoring to avoid attention.
International human rights organizations have condemned these practices. Human Rights Watch has documented dozens of cases where denunciations led directly to human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and torture.
Despite international pressure, the Belarusian government shows no signs of changing course. Instead, officials have praised these channels as examples of “civil vigilance” and “patriotic activity.”
For ordinary Belarusians, the message is clear: no space is truly private, no opinion safely expressed. As one Minsk resident put it, “We’ve returned to whispering in our own homes. You never know who might be listening, or what innocent comment might destroy your life tomorrow.”
As this system of digital denunciation becomes more entrenched, it represents not just a threat to individual liberty but a fundamental reshaping of Belarusian society—one where mutual suspicion replaces trust, and where silence becomes the safest form of expression.
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12 Comments
This is a disturbing trend indeed. State propaganda channels weaponized to target businesses and individuals deemed disloyal – that’s a real abuse of power and a chilling tactic to suppress dissent.
Agreed, the ‘denunciation factory’ model is a blatant violation of civil liberties. Destroying livelihoods and spreading fear is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.
The ‘denunciation factory’ tactic is a disturbing erosion of the rule of law. Using anonymous tips to justify crackdowns on businesses and individuals is a dangerous path towards totalitarianism.
Sadly, this is all too common in authoritarian states. Propagandists wield tremendous power to destroy lives with impunity. The people of Belarus deserve much better.
The ‘denunciation factory’ model is a terrifying abuse of state power. Using anonymous tips to justify crackdowns on businesses and individuals is a clear violation of basic human rights.
Agreed, this is a textbook example of how authoritarian regimes can leverage propaganda and surveillance to crush dissent. The people of Belarus deserve so much better.
A small bookshop facing raids and inspections just for displaying works by critical authors? That’s outrageous censorship. The Lukashenko regime seems determined to eliminate any remaining independent voices.
Absolutely, this is a textbook example of how propaganda can enable the systematic targeting of dissidents and minorities. Very troubling developments in Belarus.
Targeting a small bookshop for displaying ‘critical’ works? That’s a chilling escalation of the Belarusian government’s war on free expression. This ‘denunciation factory’ tactic is a hallmark of totalitarian control.
Absolutely right. This is a blatant attempt to eliminate any remaining spaces for independent thought and civil society in Belarus. It’s a deeply troubling development.
This pattern of using state media to instigate raids, inspections, and imprisonment is deeply concerning. It’s a brazen attempt to eliminate any remaining pockets of independent thought and expression.
Agreed, this is a clear abuse of state power to crush dissent. The Lukashenko regime seems determined to maintain its grip on power at all costs, even if it means destroying its own citizens’ livelihoods.