Fighting cyber fraud, terrorism: Belarus’ minister outlines tasks for CIS security agencies
01.10.2026
MINSK (
BelTA) – A delegation of the Belarusian Internal Affairs Ministry led by Minister Ivan Kubrakov is taking part in the 52nd meeting of the CIS Ministers of Internal Affairs Council in Dushanbe, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Internal Affairs Ministry.
The heads of law enforcement agencies are set to discuss key aspects of cooperation, exchange experience and set priorities. Also in focus is the preparation of a draft interstate program of joint crime-fighting measures for 2029–2033, and work on international treaties in various areas.
Ivan Kubrakov noted that it was above all the decisions taken by the Internal Affairs Ministers Council and subsequently implemented in our countries that helped solve hundreds of crimes and apprehend criminals. “Despite external and internal challenges and threats, over the period under review Belarus has managed to maintain a stable and controlled crime situation. The overall number of registered crimes has fallen by more than 12 %, including particularly grave and grave offences. The crime rate in our country has reached its lowest level in the past 10 years,” the minister emphasized.
Among the important results of coordinated efforts, Ivan Kubrakov noted the implementation of the interstate program of joint crime-fighting measures for 2024–2028. During the special comprehensive operation Search this year, 111 criminals were detained in the country for law enforcement agencies of the CIS countries. As a result of the exchange of operational information and coordinated work to verify it, 160 people who had committed unlawful acts on the territory of Belarus were detained in the CIS states, and 45 missing persons were found.
Ivan Kubrakov drew his colleagues’ attention to the importance of cooperation in combating the drug threat. “This year we encountered a new method of illegally moving large consignments across our country’s western borders – using weather balloons equipped with geolocation and mobile communication systems. There have been repeated cases of their transport from Poland for further transit to the Russian Federation. As a result of operational search measures in Grodno Oblast, more than 142 kg of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized, and those involved in their transport were detained,” the minister explained.
In February, officers of the Belarusian and Russian internal affairs ministries identified and shut down a methadone laboratory in Moscow Oblast, organized by Belarusians. Around 13 kg of banned substances and laboratory equipment were seized, and a large consignment was prevented from reaching the illegal market.
“To identify and cut off channels of financing for drug crime and to reduce the involvement of Belarusian payment instruments in it, we initiated amendments to Decree No. 269 of the head of state ‘On Measures to Counter Unauthorized Payment Operations’. This allows the Internal Affairs Ministry to exchange information with the National Bank in real time and to track and block transactions linked to the illegal circulation of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The mechanism has already proved highly effective, and we are ready to share this experience with colleagues from the CIS countries,” Ivan Kubrakov added.
Countering cybercrime remains one of the most significant tasks for the law enforcement system. “Of concern are the operation of transnational fraudulent call centers, the spread of extremist and terrorist content, the involvement of young people in unlawful activity via the internet, and attempts to destabilize public security through information influence,” the minister said.
The minister stressed particular concern over countering extremism and terrorism, which in any form have become one of the most dangerous problems and a real threat to security. “The key challenges are cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency financing, as well as recruitment via the internet,” Ivan Kubrakov said.
Given its geographical location, Belarus is actively used as a transit corridor by migrants moving west from Asia, Africa, the Near and Middle East. “The country pays heightened attention to managing migration flows, successfully carrying out the tasks set by the declaration on a coordinated migration policy of the CIS countries. The Internal Affairs Ministry, together with the relevant agencies, applies a wide range of measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of control and preventing any destabilization of the situation. In 2026, around 12,000 violations of migration legislation were identified, 3,000 foreign citizens were expelled from the country, and more than 2,000 decisions were taken to refuse entry to foreigners. The number of identified groups of illegal migrants has decreased,” the minister added, stressing that the interstate program is being implemented successfully, which makes it possible to further coordinate and significantly intensify joint efforts in the fight against crime.
The heads of law enforcement agencies are set to discuss key aspects of cooperation, exchange experience and set priorities. Also in focus is the preparation of a draft interstate program of joint crime-fighting measures for 2029–2033, and work on international treaties in various areas.
Ivan Kubrakov noted that it was above all the decisions taken by the Internal Affairs Ministers Council and subsequently implemented in our countries that helped solve hundreds of crimes and apprehend criminals. “Despite external and internal challenges and threats, over the period under review Belarus has managed to maintain a stable and controlled crime situation. The overall number of registered crimes has fallen by more than 12 %, including particularly grave and grave offences. The crime rate in our country has reached its lowest level in the past 10 years,” the minister emphasized.
Among the important results of coordinated efforts, Ivan Kubrakov noted the implementation of the interstate program of joint crime-fighting measures for 2024–2028. During the special comprehensive operation Search this year, 111 criminals were detained in the country for law enforcement agencies of the CIS countries. As a result of the exchange of operational information and coordinated work to verify it, 160 people who had committed unlawful acts on the territory of Belarus were detained in the CIS states, and 45 missing persons were found.
Ivan Kubrakov drew his colleagues’ attention to the importance of cooperation in combating the drug threat. “This year we encountered a new method of illegally moving large consignments across our country’s western borders – using weather balloons equipped with geolocation and mobile communication systems. There have been repeated cases of their transport from Poland for further transit to the Russian Federation. As a result of operational search measures in Grodno Oblast, more than 142 kg of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized, and those involved in their transport were detained,” the minister explained.
In February, officers of the Belarusian and Russian internal affairs ministries identified and shut down a methadone laboratory in Moscow Oblast, organized by Belarusians. Around 13 kg of banned substances and laboratory equipment were seized, and a large consignment was prevented from reaching the illegal market.
“To identify and cut off channels of financing for drug crime and to reduce the involvement of Belarusian payment instruments in it, we initiated amendments to Decree No. 269 of the head of state ‘On Measures to Counter Unauthorized Payment Operations’. This allows the Internal Affairs Ministry to exchange information with the National Bank in real time and to track and block transactions linked to the illegal circulation of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The mechanism has already proved highly effective, and we are ready to share this experience with colleagues from the CIS countries,” Ivan Kubrakov added.
Countering cybercrime remains one of the most significant tasks for the law enforcement system. “Of concern are the operation of transnational fraudulent call centers, the spread of extremist and terrorist content, the involvement of young people in unlawful activity via the internet, and attempts to destabilize public security through information influence,” the minister said.
The minister stressed particular concern over countering extremism and terrorism, which in any form have become one of the most dangerous problems and a real threat to security. “The key challenges are cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency financing, as well as recruitment via the internet,” Ivan Kubrakov said.
Given its geographical location, Belarus is actively used as a transit corridor by migrants moving west from Asia, Africa, the Near and Middle East. “The country pays heightened attention to managing migration flows, successfully carrying out the tasks set by the declaration on a coordinated migration policy of the CIS countries. The Internal Affairs Ministry, together with the relevant agencies, applies a wide range of measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of control and preventing any destabilization of the situation. In 2026, around 12,000 violations of migration legislation were identified, 3,000 foreign citizens were expelled from the country, and more than 2,000 decisions were taken to refuse entry to foreigners. The number of identified groups of illegal migrants has decreased,” the minister added, stressing that the interstate program is being implemented successfully, which makes it possible to further coordinate and significantly intensify joint efforts in the fight against crime.