Teachers from across Belarus have recently been detained and summoned for interrogation by the country’s State Security Committee (KGB RB). This latest wave of detentions is in connection with their involvement in an educational project known as “Adukavanka.” The project, aimed at enhancing the skills of education workers in Belarus by offering express courses, lesson builders, chatbots, and downloadable materials, has been labeled as an “extremist formation” by the KGB RB as of late August.
Reports from the Viasna Human Rights Centre indicate that the detained teachers participated in the project’s Telegram chat, where they engaged in discussions on lesson conducting, educational technologies, and other related topics. On September 17, Adukavanka acknowledged the classification on its Telegram channel, noting, “We are sad that making education better is an extremist activity in Belarus” and urged its Belarusian subscribers to unsubscribe from its social media accounts.
This movement is part of an extensive crackdown on dissent that has intensified since the disputed 2020 presidential election, where Alexander Lukashenko secured a sixth term. The suppression efforts date back to Lukashenko’s first term but have ramped up significantly in recent years. According to reports, more than 169 organizations, including the Viasna Human Rights Centre, have been designated as “extremist groups” by the state security forces since 2021. The broader campaign has led to over 65,000 arrests, notably targeting cultural figures, human rights defenders, and independent media.
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