KGB: 2,000 Belarusian officials, journos, businessmen wiretapped over last 3 years


Over three years telephone conversation of a number government officials, businessmen and journalists have been tapped.

The Belaruaisn State Security Committee (KGB) detained the organizers of the group, who were involved in intercepting communications of more than 2,000 Belarusians, including representatives of government, business and the media. The scale and targets of wiretapping suggest a foreign trace in the case – or some kind of secret service game which is hard to understand at the moment.

“For three years, members of the criminal group have been eavesdropping in buildings and on telephone, have been hacking email, Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and social networks accounts. They got payments through a conspiratorial money tranfer scheme with the usage of electronic purses. As a result of the action taken, the organizers of criminal activity were arrested. Over 80 searches were carried out, about 1,500 ustomers illegal services were found,” the press service of the KGB says.[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”26550″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row]”In the course of urgent investigative actions special electronic equipment and foreign currency in cash were found at involvants’ workplaces and places of residence. A criminal case under Article 376-2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (illegal manufacturing, purchase or sale of equipment for secretly obtaining information by a group of persons by prior agreement) was opened against the participants of the criminal group. The article provides for the punishment of up to 4 years in prison,” the KGB says.

Read also: Opposition leaders find KGB bug at meeting in Minsk cafe

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”26554″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row]More than 2,000 citizens of Belarus have fallen the victims of the criminal group’s activity, including a deputy chief of a district police department in Minsk; senior representative of Hrodna regional emergency department; staff of the Investigative Committee, journalists of state-run and non-governmental mass media, representatives of the customs authorities, military officers, as well as heads and representatives of government and administration, directors of public and private enterprises.

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