A Belarusian Senior Wikipedia Editor Arrested

Belarus, one of the countries that sided with Russia in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, does not like the information shared against Russia within the scope of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the news.

According to a local news source in Belarus, the Belarusian Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBOPiK) Detains Wikipedia editor Mark Bernstein. The arrest came after Bernstein’s personal information was shared on GOBUPiK’s public Telegram channel. Bernstein, Russian Wikipedia of the top 50 editors somebody seen as.

Reason for arrest ‘publishing fake anti-Russian information’

(Wikipedia editor Mark Bernstein)

A video of Bernstein’s arrest was released. According to the news, Mark Bernstein was arrested for publishing false anti-Russian information. The news source also noted that Berstein’s Editing Wikipedia articles on the invasion of Ukraine being accused also reported.

Until today Editing over 200,000 Wikipedia pages Mark Bernstein’s Wikipedia account is said to be blocked indefinitely.

Belarus provided logistical support during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, providing a service for units moving towards the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. served as a preparation area. Earlier today, Ukraine said that Belarus plans to join the invasion with its own army, alleging that Russia carried out a “false flag” attack to provoke the country’s accession.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed people spreading “fake news”. Signed a law punishing him with up to 15 years in prison. The country’s technology and communications agency, Roskomnadzor, also threatened to block the Russian-language pages of Wikipedia regarding the current invasion of Ukraine. At that time, the Wikimedia Foundation published a statement in support of the Russian Wikipedia editors.

Reached for comment Wikimedia Foundation spokespersonHe said the group is monitoring the situation closely. Spokesman, “The Foundation’s Trust and Security and Human Rights teams are monitoring the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and are in close contact with our communities in the region to ensure their safety and respond to their needs.” said.