“Belarusian Hayun” announced it is shutting down
The monitoring project had been operating since early 2022 / Telegram
"Belarusian Hayun" announced that it is ceasing its work. The reason is not stated by its founders, but it is obvious — the recent scandal involving the hacking of the chatbot by Belarusian security forces, Euroradio reports.
The monitoring project had been operating since early 2022. It tracked the military activity of Belarusian and Russian troops in Belarus and reported on Shaheds that flew into Belarus. The project was called "very important" and was referenced by Ukrainian media.
On February 6, when the hacking became known, its founders warned their informants in Belarus that they were at risk. According to one version, the security forces may have gained access following the detention of activists in Belarus.
BYSOL reported that within 24 hours, 50 people who had submitted information to "Belarusian Hayun" reached out seeking consultations and assistance. Security forces claim that detentions have already begun.
On Friday, a message appeared in a Telegram channel linked to the security forces stating that those connected to "Belarusian Hayun" would face lighter punishment — in the event of their detention — if the project shuts down.
