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Belarus Bans Use of Foreign Websites

Posted by Soulskill on from the technological-island-nation dept.

bs0d3 writes "A new law in Belarus prohibits people from using 'foreign' websites. The law requires that all companies and individuals who are registered as entrepreneurs in Belarus use only domestic Internet domains for providing online services, conducting sales, or exchanging email messages. The tax authorities and the secret police are authorized to investigate violations."

3 of 361 comments (clear)

  1. Geek perspective: websites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Belarus is a dictatorship with a history of human rights abuse. All bets are off.

  2. Re:Sensationalist Title! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Additionally, the Law states that the owners and administrators of Internet cafés or other places that offer access to the Internet might be found guilty of violating this Law and fined and their businesses might be closed if users of Internet services provided by these places are found visiting websites located outside of Belarus and if such behavior of the clients was not properly identified, recorded, and reported to the authorities."

    From TFA

  3. Alexander Lukashenko by sirdude · · Score: 5, Informative

    For those who are unaware, Belarus is ruled by a turd named Alexander Lukashenko. He's been their president since 1994 and initially increased presidential term limits from the standard five years to seven and later removed presidential term limits altogether.

    Some of his memorable moments include:

    1. He warned that anyone joining an opposition protest would be treated as a "terrorist", adding: "We will wring their necks, as one might a duck".
    2. Addressing the "miserable state of the city of Babruysk" on a live broadcast on state radio he stated: "This is a Jewish city, and the Jews are not concerned for the place they live in. They have turned Babruysk into a pigsty. Look at Israel—I was there and saw it myself ... I call on Jews who have money to come back to Babruysk."
    3. "My position and the state will never allow me to become a dictator, but an authoritarian style of rule is characteristic of me, and I have always admitted it. You need to control the country, and the main thing is not to ruin people's lives."

    ... and so on.

    In other words, such stories while shocking are, IMO, hardly surprising ...