Belarusian Musicians and Family Placed on Extremist List Amid Legal Proceedings
The Litesound duo, brothers Dmitry and Vladimir Karyakin, were added to Belarus’s list of individuals deemed to be engaged in extremist activities. Their parents, Yuri Karyakin and Olga Kraiko, also appear on this list. An online Belarusian portal, Zerkalo.io, notes that the Ministry of Internal Affairs updates the list every Friday.
The Karyakin family’s inclusion followed a recent verdict on two charges from the Belarusian Criminal Code. Dmitry and Vladimir were found guilty under Part 1 of Article 342, which covers organization and participation in acts of gross violation of public order, and under Part 2 of Article 295, relating to illegal acts involving firearms, ammunition, and explosives. In separate sentences, the musicians and their mother received two and a half years in a penal facility without transfer to a corrective colony, while their father was sentenced to three years in a temporary detention facility. While in custody, Yuri Karyakin reportedly suffered a stroke and later returned home.
Investigations began in October 2022 after security forces conducted searches that uncovered photographs from Belarusian marches held in 2020. Some sources also mentioned the possible presence of an arsenal of unregistered weapons and ammunition in the family residence, though details remain contested.
Dmitry and Vladimir Karyakin formed the rock group Litesound in 2005. In 2012, the band advanced to the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and finished 15th out of 18 contestants, with the performance of the song “We Are the Heroes.”
In the context of Eurovision discussions, public figures have sometimes speculated about who may participate in the 2022 event. This topic has been widely covered across European media and among fans who follow the competition closely. [Source: regional press reports and public statements compiled for background context.]