This article was written within the framework of the Shadow Diplomats international project.
- The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) drew attention to the controversial work of honorary consuls’ institution. These volunteer diplomats work from their home countries to promote the interests of foreign governments, typically in places without an embassy or consulate.
- A first-of-its-kind global investigation by ProPublica and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists identified at least 500 current and former honorary consuls who were publicly accused of wrongdoing or embroiled in controversy. ProPublica and ICIJ worked on the project together with 59 media partners, including the BIC.
- Belarus is among the top 20 countries with the largest number of current and former honorary consuls who have been embroiled in scandals or criminal cases. Among them are Lukashenko's wallets and businessmen who have earned their fortune thanks to their ties with the regime.
ICIJ's work with the BIC and other partners showed that the honorary consul system has been undermined by unchecked appointees who have abused their status to enrich themselves, evade law enforcement or advance political agendas, the investigation found.
The Kingdom of Shadows
11 businessmen on the Shadow Diplomats list are current or former honorary consuls to Belarus. Our country shares with India the 15th-16th place as for the number of “shadow diplomats” worldwide. The leaders of the rating are Spain, US, Russia, and Germany, where there are more than 20 honorary consuls who were publicly accused of wrongdoing or embroiled in controversy. However, if we compare these figures with the population of the countries and territories from which “shadow diplomats” work, then Belarus ranks 5th out of 170.
All the suspicious consuls with Belarusian residences are businessmen, and many were main figures of our previous investigations. The re-export of sanctioned goods, smuggling, illegal construction, arms trade, and the sale of medicines at inflated prices – this is an incomplete list of cases in which these “shadow diplomats” are involved. Most of them are close to the Lukashenko regime and, with its help, were able to make deals to the detriment of Belarusian taxpayers.
Lukashenko's wallets
Siarhei Tsiatseryn (Sergei Teterin), a frequent figure of our investigations and honorary consul of Georgia to Belarus, is on the Shadow Diplomats list.