Economy. The authorities in Belarus use the mobile network to monitor and silence government critics, according to a new report from the human rights organization Amnesty International. A company that indirectly co-owned by Swedish Telia is among the largest mobile operators in the country.
The operators give the Belarusian regime virtually unlimited access to customers’ telephone and Internet communications which, according to Amnesty, making it possible for the government to engage in illegal spying.
“in a country where you can be arrested for that you protest or criticize the president, only the threat that authorities spying on you do activists work almost impossible,” said Amnesty International Joshua Franco, according to a press release.
One of the largest mobile operators in Belarus Live, which is 80 percent owned by Turkcell. Swedish Telia in turn is a shareholder in Turkcell, with a share of 38 percent of the shares.
Telia have indicated to Amnesty International that the company has a specific policy against direct access to telecommunications data. But the Swedish operator says it is unable to take responsibility for Turkcell’s actions.
Scandals in other former Soviet states, including Azerbaijan, contributed to Telia last year decided to leave the region.
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