Activists say Belarusian security services are contacting exiles online, threatening relatives and sending police to family homes. / Euroadio/OpenAI
Belarusian intelligence services, primarily the Committee for State Security (KGB), have once again stepped up their recruitment attempts targeting Belarusians in exile. Most often, they write via messengers or social media and offer to "communicate".
Coordinator Council of Belarus member and activist Mikita Semianenka described one such case:
"My colleagues and I have received dozens of messages on Telegram from employees of Lukashenko's special services."
"They mention the names of your relatives, threaten to visit them, or claim they have already spoken with them after work, naming the location. If you have no one there, they ask you to name a person in Belarus through whom they can 'verify' themselves, so that you believe in the seriousness of their intentions."
Euroradio is aware of several more similar cases in recent weeks.
In addition, representatives of the security forces — most often from the Ministry of Internal Affairs — have once again begun actively visiting the homes of relatives of political activists, volunteers, and journalists. Euroradio is aware of several such cases within the past week.
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