Valgevene KGB lisab World of Tanksi stuudio bossi terroristide nimekirja

Nikolai Katselapov, World of Tanksi stuudio Wargamingu äriarenduse juht, näib olevat olnud added to a list “of organisations and individuals involved in terrorist activities” (avaneb uuel vahelehel) by Belarus’ Committee for State Security (or KGB, yes, as in et KGB). Liikumisel, mis tõenäoliselt ajendas Wargaming tõmbab Valgevenest välja (avaneb uuel vahelehel) 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.

Katselapov lisati nimekirja tegelikult juba 30. detsembril, kuid alles siis, kui sõltumatu Valgevene ajaleht Nasha Niva (avaneb uuel vahelehel) (via Mängu maailmavaatleja (avaneb uuel vahelehel)) 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: 2016. aastal hinnati selle väärtuseks üle miljardi dollari. (avaneb uuel vahelehel)

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