“The Office of the Investigative Committee for the city of Minsk continues to investigate the criminal case opened on the fact of the illegal activities of Stepan Putilo and other persons, regarding the functioning of the telegram channels created and managed by them that distribute extremist materials,” the IC said in a statement.

According to the materials of the case, Putilo and other persons "perform the functions of owners and editors of telegram channels recognized as extremist on the territory of the Republic of Belarus."

The investigation has identified a group that collects, analyzes and creates materials for a fee.

“In addition, facts have been established confirming that the activities of the above persons have already been merged into an organization whose office is located in the city of Warsaw (Poland),” the department added.

Based on the data collected by the Investigative Committee, the investigators established “signs of a foreign extremist organization”, and at present the UCK in Minsk initiated the recognition of the editorial board as a “foreign extremist organization and the prohibition of its activities on the territory of the Republic of Belarus”.

In February, Belarus sent Poland documents to extradite the creator of NEXTA.

In November 2020, the State Security Committee of Belarus added Putilo and the former editor-in-chief of the channel, Roman Protasevich, to the list of organizations and individuals involved in terrorist activities.