FLAW is a project that explores how laws are used to control, pressure, and suppress civil society. We examine the legal mechanisms that turn repression into “legitimate” practice and explain what really lies behind such measures.

 

We began with Belarus, where anti-extremism legislation has become the main tool of mass persecution. The authorities label independent media, human rights defenders, activists, and even ordinary citizens as extremists — simply for subscribing to “undesirable” information channels or using protest symbols.

 

FLAW helps people understand repressive laws, assess their impact, and find ways to protect themselves.

 

We provide:

• Reviews and Analytics — analysis of how anti-extremism legislation works, which trends are intensifying, and who the authorities target most frequently.

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• Extremist Lists Database —  an automatically updated system containing data on individuals, organizations, and media outlets designated as extremist in Belarus, along with a built-in search engine for quickly finding information across extremist lists and related data.

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• Notifier Service  — automatic alerts if you or your organization are added to extremist lists.

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• CaseCall Service — a secure tool for documenting cases of persecution, collecting evidence, and receiving support from partner organizations.

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• Legal and Digital Security Assistance — in partnership with LegalHub, we provide legal consultations, and together with CyberBeaver, we offer support on digital security.

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Over time, FLAW will broaden its focus to other countries where legislation is used as a tool of repression.