BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/05/2008

Belarus KGB accuses US diplomats of spy plot amid escalating tensions

Belarus is accusing the United States of recruiting citizens into a spy ring aimed at undermining the authoritarian ex-Soviet republic, the Associated Press reports from Minsk.

The statement comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries, the agency marks, adding that most employees of the US embassy have been expelled in recent months. Most of the diplomats were expelled after the US imposed sanctions on a state-controlled company and travel restrictions on President Alexander Lukashenko and other top government officials.

Belarus State Security Committee (KGB) revealed the details of the 'spy scandal' that was connected with the members of the embassies of the United States and Belarus, the Moscow-based Pravda online edition reports. Belarus KGB spokesman Valery Nadtochayev told Belarusian television last night that the US Embassy had hired ten local citizens to illegally take videos and photographs of police officials, their cars, airports and villages near the state border, according to the Associated Press. The group also observed the police members that worked during the meetings of 'radical opposition', according to Nadtochayev.

- In Minsk there was a group of observation and detection that consisted of Belarus citizens-members of Security Office of the USA, - Pravda online edition cites Nadtochayev. He said that the head of the work of the group was a certain Kurt Finley, who is thought to be the regular staff member of the FBI. Finley left Belarus in late March and his activity can be qualified as espionage, according to the Belarus KGB spokesperson. Nadtochayev said that he managed to cut down the illegal activity of Belarus citizens that could be qualified as treason.

The main shooting areas were the center of Minsk, National airport Minsk, and some towns near the capital of Belarus. Overall there were made about 5,000 photos. After the check was completed, the State Security Committee just revealed the warning message that said it's forbidden to participate in the illegal group activities.

Source:

http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1547

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