A Belarusian hacker activist group known as the Belarusian Cyber-Partisans has claimed responsibility for infiltrating computers at the country’s largest fertilizer plant, Grodno Azot, in an effort to pressure the government to release political prisoners. The group alleges that they caused damage to the plant’s systems, including destroying backup systems, encrypted internal mail, document flows, and hundreds of PCs. The state-run plant has not issued any comment on the attack, but its website has been unavailable since the Cyber-Partisans claimed responsibility on Wednesday. Group coordinator Yuliana Shametavets stated that the attack was designed to affect only documentation due to the plant’s use of dangerous substances like ammonia.
Grodno Azot, which employs approximately 7,500 workers, is a crucial producer in Belarus, where the economy heavily relies on chemical industries. The attack on the plant comes in the midst of a harsh crackdown on the opposition in Belarus that began after protests erupted in August 2020 following controversial presidential elections that secured another term for authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Human rights activists estimate that around 35,000 individuals were arrested during the crackdown, with nearly 1,400 political prisoners currently behind bars, including prominent opposition figures and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. The protests in 2020 represented the most significant display of dissent in Belarus since Lukashenko first assumed power in 1994, with workers at various major plants, including Grodno Azot, participating in strikes against the regime.
The Belarusian Cyber-Partisans claim that their hacking attack on Grodno Azot was in retaliation for the company’s alleged mistreatment, pressure, and political repression against its employees. While the extent of the damage caused by the attack remains unclear, the group posted photos on social media that supposedly depicted compromised computer screens at the plant. The lack of comment from Grodno Azot suggests that they may be navigating the aftermath of the breach internally. The group, which operates with a clear political agenda, is seeking to leverage their cyber capabilities to effect change in Belarus by targeting entities that they believe enable or contribute to the country’s oppressive regime.
As Belarus continues to grapple with political unrest and a crackdown on dissent, the actions of groups like the Belarusian Cyber-Partisans underscore the increasingly prominent role that technology and cyber activism play in contemporary political struggles. The use of hacking as a tool for political pressure and resistance raises questions about the ethics and consequences of such actions, particularly in a repressive political environment like Belarus. The Cyber-Partisans’ targeting of critical infrastructure like the state-run fertilizer plant highlights their strategic approach to disrupting key sectors of the economy in order to advance their political objectives. As the situation in Belarus remains tense, the actions of groups like the Cyber-Partisans are likely to continue shaping the dynamics of opposition and resistance in the country.
