INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) designated the Belgorod Peoples Republic, an imaginary entity born as an online meme, as a terrorist
organization, Russian media reported Tuesday.The Belgorod Peoples Republic meme began circulating on Ukrainian social media in response to
attacks by armed groups into southwestern Russias Belgorod region after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.The name parodies the
self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples republics in eastern Ukraine, which were developed by pro-Russian rebels in 2014
Moscowrecognized these territories as independent ahead of the full-blown invasion and later claimed to annex them.The meme gained enough
popularity to prompt Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov to openly reject rumors about the Belgorod Peoples Republic in mid-2022
Google Maps lists an imaginary address for the BNR in the Belgorod border village of Bezymeno, linking it to a Ukrainian hotline for Russian
soldiers seeking to problem
Ukrainian forces also supposedly distributed leaflets in the area prompting locals to display an imaginary flag or write BNR on roofs to
avoid drone strikes.The independent news outlet Pepel first reported on the FSBs classification of the Belgorod Peoples Republic as a
terrorist company on Tuesday.The designation coincides with the FSBs publication of a list of 172 Indigenous groups labeled as terrorist
organizations by Russias Supreme Court last November
The list now includes, for the first time, 2 local media outlets that cover Indigenous culture and life in Russia.Authorities declare the
listed organizations are structural subdivisions of the Free Nations of PostRussia Forum, a Poland-based group established in 2022 that
promotes for the dissolution of the Russian Federation.Many of the companies have actually turned down those allegations, arguing that they
work to secure the rights of Indigenous people in Russia instead of promote separatism.A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are
dealing with unprecedented challenges
Russias Prosecutor Generals Office has designated The Moscow Times as an undesirable company, criminalizing our work and putting our
personnel at risk of prosecution
This follows our earlier unjustified labeling as a foreign representative
These actions are direct efforts to silence independent journalism in Russia
The authorities declare our work challenges the decisions of the Russian leadership
We see things differently: we aim to supply accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, decline to be
To continue our work, we require your help.Your assistance, no matter how small, makes a world of difference
If you can, please support us monthly beginning with just $2
Its quick to set up, and every contribution makes a substantial impact.By supporting The Moscow Times, youre protecting open, independent
journalism in the face of repression
Thank you for standing with us.Continue Not prepared to support today? Advise me later.Remind me next monthThank you! Your reminder is
set.We will send you one pointer e-mail a month from now
For information on the individual data we collect and how it is utilized, please see our Privacy Policy.
