A Belarusian hacker activist group known as the Cyber-Partisans recently claimed to have successfully infiltrated the network of the country’s main KGB security agency. The group managed to access personnel files of over 8,600 employees of the organization, which still goes by its Soviet-era name. Despite the lack of official confirmation from authorities, the Belarusian KGB website displayed an empty page stating that it was “in the process of development.” To support their claim, the Cyber-Partisans published a list of the website’s administrators, its database, and server logs on the messaging app Telegram.
Yuliana Shametavets, the coordinator of the Cyber-Partisans group, stated that the attack on the KGB was in response to the agency’s chief accusing the group of plotting attacks on critical infrastructure, including a nuclear power plant. She highlighted the group’s mission to save lives and hold those responsible for political repressions accountable. According to Shametavets, the group had been attempting to hack the KGB website and database for several years before successfully accessing the personal files of over 8,600 employees. This data was used to create a chat bot on Telegram that allowed Belarusians to identify KGB operatives by uploading their photos.
In a separate incident, the Cyber-Partisans claimed to have infiltrated computers at Belarus’ largest fertilizer plant, Grodno Azot, to pressure the government to release political prisoners. The state-run plant did not comment on the claim, but its website has been inaccessible since April 17. Grodno Azot, with approximately 7,500 employees, plays a crucial role in the country’s chemical industries. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, faced widespread protests following the disputed 2020 election that saw President Alexander Lukashenko claim his sixth term in office. The government responded with arrests, beatings, and long prison terms for opposition figures, leading to ongoing unrest.
The oldest human rights group in Belarus, Viasna, reported nearly 1,400 political prisoners in the country, including its founder Ales Bialiatski, who was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. The Cyber-Partisans have a history of large-scale attacks against Belarusian state media outlets and critical infrastructure. In 2022, the group hacked Belarusian Railways three times, disrupting traffic lights and control systems and interfering with the transit of Russian military equipment into Ukraine through Belarus. Shametavets warned that continued political repressions by the authorities would result in further cyberattacks aimed at destabilizing the Lukashenko regime. The group’s actions reflect a growing trend of activists and hackers using technology to challenge oppressive governments and seek justice for victims of political repression.
