Since 2009, he has been among the 50 best editors of the Russian-language Wikipedia. Author of numerous articles on the Holocaust, author of an article on censorship in the Soviet Union, in which he cited about 250 sources.
On March 10, 2022, the Russian pro-government Telegram channel Mrakoborets published Bernstein’s personal information and accused him of violating the new Russian law on the publication of fake news. The channel said Mark Bernstein’s editing of Wikipedia articles about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violated the new “fake law.”
On March 11, 2022, Mark Bernstein was arrested in Minsk. The GUBAZIKA Telegram channel published a photo of Mark Bernstein with the caption: “This person spreads fake anti-Russian materials.”
On March 12, 2022, Mark Bernstein was sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest under Art. 24.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus (disobedience to a lawful order or demand of an official in the performance of his official powers).
Mark Bernstein was not released after those 15 days; instead, a criminal case was opened against him. He is a suspect under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them).
On March 29, 2022, Mark Bernstein was recognized as a political prisoner.
On June 24, 2022, Mark Bernstein was sentenced to three years of home confinement.
He has been on the list of “extremists” since October 14, 2022.