The Main Directorate of Digital Development of the Investigative Committee has completed a criminal investigation into two foreigners who carried out business activities related to the sale of cryptocurrency on the territory of Belarus.
In the spring of 2019, a 36-year-old foreigner, the head of one of the largest financial services for the exchange of tokens in Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates, organized business activities for the sale of these assets in the territory of our state.
Before starting his business, the businessman studied the legislation governing the circulation of cryptocurrency in the Republic of Belarus. He also requested information from government agencies about the procedure for selling tokens and electronic money, and also consulted with qualified lawyers who explained to him the responsibility for violating tax laws and advised him not to engage in the above.
Having made the appropriate decision, the businessman involved his 38-year-old friend, also a foreigner, in the systematic sale of digital assets.
The sale was carried out in office space rented in Minsk. Transactions were ensured through the use of Internet sites registered outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Belarus, which posted information about the services offered.
The clients were individuals interested in purchasing cryptocurrency, who followed algorithms specially developed for them. In particular, clients of the exchanger were required to provide information in advance about the time of their visit to the office premises, the size and name of the digital currency they wanted to purchase. They also had to undergo verification in the corresponding Telegram chat, through which correspondence was carried out with them.
During the investigation, it was possible to establish that, in violation of the provisions of Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 8 “On the Development of the Digital Economy,” individuals who were misled about the legality of their actions were involved in this business activity and were responsible for recording and systematizing information about the clients of the accused.
In order to conceal the tax base and non-payment of income taxes, the defendants used various means of anonymization, including accounts registered in the Telegram messenger, through which correspondence was carried out with clients.
In the course of carrying out this activity, the partners developed a special line of behavior in the event that law enforcement agencies discovered their tax evasion. For a long time they did not attract attention from law enforcement agencies and remained unnoticed, but in March 2023 their activities were suppressed by employees of the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
During the initial investigative actions, computer equipment and other storage media of those involved in the criminal case were seized and studied in detail, as a result of which evidence was obtained indicating that more than 2 thousand transactions for the sale of digital currency were carried out between December 2019 and January 2023. The daily amount varied from one thousand to 100 thousand US dollars. The commission depended on the transaction: 1 - 5%.
As a result of the systematic sale of digital currency, the accused received income in excess of 10 million Belarusian rubles during the specified period.
The actions of the defendants in the criminal case are qualified under Part 3 of Article 243 (tax evasion on an especially large scale) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
The accused fully admitted their guilt in committing the crime and gave detailed testimony on the merits of the charges brought against them. The damage caused by the crime amounted to more than 1.1 million Belarusian rubles and, as a result of the measures taken in the criminal case, it was compensated in full.
The criminal case has been transferred to the prosecutor for referral to court.
The Investigative Committee reminds that business activities for the systematic sale of tokens on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, carried out by individuals in violation of the provisions of Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 8 “On the development of the digital economy,” are illegal and prohibited.
In the spring of 2019, a 36-year-old foreigner, the head of one of the largest financial services for the exchange of tokens in Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates, organized business activities for the sale of these assets in the territory of our state.
Before starting his business, the businessman studied the legislation governing the circulation of cryptocurrency in the Republic of Belarus. He also requested information from government agencies about the procedure for selling tokens and electronic money, and also consulted with qualified lawyers who explained to him the responsibility for violating tax laws and advised him not to engage in the above.
Having made the appropriate decision, the businessman involved his 38-year-old friend, also a foreigner, in the systematic sale of digital assets.
The sale was carried out in office space rented in Minsk. Transactions were ensured through the use of Internet sites registered outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Belarus, which posted information about the services offered.
The clients were individuals interested in purchasing cryptocurrency, who followed algorithms specially developed for them. In particular, clients of the exchanger were required to provide information in advance about the time of their visit to the office premises, the size and name of the digital currency they wanted to purchase. They also had to undergo verification in the corresponding Telegram chat, through which correspondence was carried out with them.
During the investigation, it was possible to establish that, in violation of the provisions of Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 8 “On the Development of the Digital Economy,” individuals who were misled about the legality of their actions were involved in this business activity and were responsible for recording and systematizing information about the clients of the accused.
In order to conceal the tax base and non-payment of income taxes, the defendants used various means of anonymization, including accounts registered in the Telegram messenger, through which correspondence was carried out with clients.
In the course of carrying out this activity, the partners developed a special line of behavior in the event that law enforcement agencies discovered their tax evasion. For a long time they did not attract attention from law enforcement agencies and remained unnoticed, but in March 2023 their activities were suppressed by employees of the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
During the initial investigative actions, computer equipment and other storage media of those involved in the criminal case were seized and studied in detail, as a result of which evidence was obtained indicating that more than 2 thousand transactions for the sale of digital currency were carried out between December 2019 and January 2023. The daily amount varied from one thousand to 100 thousand US dollars. The commission depended on the transaction: 1 - 5%.
As a result of the systematic sale of digital currency, the accused received income in excess of 10 million Belarusian rubles during the specified period.
The actions of the defendants in the criminal case are qualified under Part 3 of Article 243 (tax evasion on an especially large scale) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
The accused fully admitted their guilt in committing the crime and gave detailed testimony on the merits of the charges brought against them. The damage caused by the crime amounted to more than 1.1 million Belarusian rubles and, as a result of the measures taken in the criminal case, it was compensated in full.
The criminal case has been transferred to the prosecutor for referral to court.
The Investigative Committee reminds that business activities for the systematic sale of tokens on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, carried out by individuals in violation of the provisions of Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 8 “On the development of the digital economy,” are illegal and prohibited.
