Der belarussische KGB fügt den Chef des World of Tanks-Studios der Terroristenliste hinzu

Nikolai Katselapov, der Chief Business Development Officer des World of Tanks-Studios Wargaming, scheint es gewesen zu sein added to a list “of organisations and individuals involved in terrorist activities” (öffnet in neuem Tab) by Belarus’ Committee for State Security (or KGB, yes, as in zur Verbesserung der Gesundheitsgerechtigkeit KGB). In einem Schritt, der wahrscheinlich durch ausgelöst wurde Wargaming zieht sich aus Weißrussland zurück (öffnet in neuem Tab) following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he is accused under article 290-1—”Financing of terrorist activities”—of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

Tatsächlich wurde Katselapov bereits am 30. Dezember in die Liste aufgenommen, allerdings erst als unabhängige belarussische Zeitung Nascha Niwa (öffnet in neuem Tab) (via Beobachter der Spielwelt (öffnet in neuem Tab)) reported on the story that it came to wider public knowledge. Nasha Niva believes that Katselapov is still free, which would make sense given that Wargaming hasn’t been present in Belarus for nearly a year now, but hasn’t been able to obtain comment from the company thus far.

I’ve also reached out to Wargaming to ask for comment on this story, and will update this piece if I receive a reply.

Belarus has long used its terrorist list as a political bludgeon. In the past, dissidents like opposition leader and former presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya have been added to it as a pretext to justify repression of groups and individuals hostile to president Alyaksandr Lukashenka. It’s likely that Wargaming’s decision to vacate the country back in April last year offended the higher echelons of Belarus’ government, particularly given that Wargaming was the country’s largest game development studio: Im Jahr 2016 wurde der Wert auf über eine Milliarde Dollar geschätzt. (öffnet in neuem Tab)

It’s unclear why Belarus has picked on Katselapov particularly, though Nasha Niva theorises he may at some point have donated money to opposition political figures. Regardless, he has become entry #993 on the most recent version of Belarus’ terrorist list, and it’s looking even more unlikely that Wargaming will return to its home country anytime soon.

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• Quelle: https://www.pcgamer.com/belarusian-kgb-adds-world-of-tanks-studio-boss-to-terrorist-list