Protest organizers in Belarus used crypto exchanger to fund activities

An active struggle against the organizers of the protests continues in Belarus. Law enforcement agencies have closed an underground cryptocurrency exchange used by such organizations.

According to the Financial Investigation Department of the State Control Committee (KGC) of Belarus, a cryptocurrency exchanger was used to finance the protest organizations. Foreign funding sources used digital assets to support “protest foundations, advocacy centers and non-profit organizations.”

The report emphasizes that the law enforcement agencies managed to establish the identities of the people receiving the funds, despite their attempts to hide their activities. Now a criminal case has been opened against five citizens of Belarus on charges of tax evasion. According to investigators, the damage to the state amounted to more than $ 3.3 million. In the future, other recipients of funds through a closed exchanger may be charged under various articles.

“More than $ 200,000 and € 65,000 were withdrawn from the defendants on settlement accounts in banks, including foreign ones, funds in the amount of over $ 370,000 were blocked, property and vehicles were seized,” the KGC reports.

In early September, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko urged citizens to mine in their home country rather than emigrate to fill low-paying agricultural jobs in Poland and Germany.

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