New banking rules could force Belarusians to justify everyday transfers, raising fears of intrusive monitoring and widespread account freezes.
In Belarus, steps to strengthen digital control over citizens are continuing. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, the country is considering introducing a system of total financial oversight.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, the country’s central bank plans to limit the number of payment cards and tighten the rules for blocking accounts under the pretext of fighting ‘drops’ – front persons. Such actions, according to experts, effectively establish a regime of presumption of guilt: every transfer or payment could become a reason to block a card.
In Belarus, following Russia, they are implementing a system of total financial control. The country’s central bank is preparing limits on the number of payment cards and tightening the rules for blocking citizens’ accounts
– Center for Countering Disinformation
under the pretext of fighting ‘drops’ (front persons), the authorities effectively implement a regime of presumption of guilt. Now any transfer or payment for services could become a reason to block a card
– Center for Countering Disinformation
Escalation of control and its consequences
As part of further steps, the authorities are tightening control over the digital space. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, some official initiatives are already turning everyday financial operations into administrative procedures: clients will have to prove the legality of every kopeck, which effectively limits their right to manage their own funds.
Alongside this, the Center emphasizes that the new financial restrictions add to the policy of digital isolation. Earlier, authorities had already begun slowing the internet and imposing limits on mobile traffic.
According to analysts, the introduction of total financial surveillance and preparing to create an analogue of Russia’s ‘sovereign Internet’ signals a convergence of Belarusian repressive mechanisms with Kremlin standards.
In the context of human rights and financial freedom, such initiatives raise concerns among experts and human rights advocates, the Center for Countering Disinformation notes.