Uzbekistan and Belarus Law Enforcement Discuss Crackdown on Cybercrime ‘Drops’

Law enforcement officials from Uzbekistan and Belarus met in Tashkent to address a sharp rise in cybercrimes involving citizens of both countries as perpetrators and victims. The Belarusian delegation was led by Anatoly Vasilyev, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Belarus, while Uzbekistan was represented by Deputy Prosecutor General Svetlana Artykova.

According to Belarus’ Investigative Committee, cyber fraud cases involving stolen funds transferred to bank accounts in Uzbekistan have surged. In 2023, 37 such incidents were recorded; in 2024, the number jumped to 142. Although data for 2025 is still incomplete, eight new cases have already been identified.

Belarus is also investigating cybercrimes in which dozens of Uzbek citizens have been victimized, leading to an increase in formal requests for legal assistance from Belarus to Uzbekistan.

A major focus of the talks was the role of so-called «drops» — individuals who open bank accounts used to cash out stolen funds. Both sides discussed the need to identify and prosecute these individuals, as well as freeze suspicious accounts.

The delegations agreed to strengthen cooperation through joint investigations, legal information exchange, and a permanent coordination mechanism. Uzbekistan supported the proposal to form joint investigative task forces.

Kursiv Uzbekistan reports that call centers involved in scamming Russian citizens were shut down in both Uzbekistan and Belarus.