Despite already enjoying a lifestyle far removed from the average Belarusian—complete with luxury watches, private jet trips to the UAE, and golden pistols gifted to the dictator’s youngest son—the Lukashenko clan appears to want even more control, and money.
According to Belpol, an association of former Belarusian law enforcement officers now opposing the regime, the president’s middle son, Dmitry Lukashenko, is spearheading a plan to introduce mandatory state registration of mobile phones through their IMEI numbers—unique device identifiers.
The move would give the regime the ability to block any unregistered device from accessing Belarusian mobile networks.
Under the proposal, all imported mobile devices would need to be registered through a system run by the Presidential Sports Club, an organisation Dmitry heads and which has long been suspected of laundering unofficial income for the ruling family.
The model appears inspired by Tajikistan, another authoritarian state that has operated a centralised IMEI registration system for years.
Belarusian officials, including representatives of the Presidential Sports Club, recently visited the country and held talks with Avesta Group, a powerful conglomerate.
Observers believe the visit was less about sports and more about replicating Tajikistan’s tight digital controls.
In Tajikistan, unregistered phones are automatically blocked from national networks. The system—known as DIRBS (Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System)—was developed with help from a Pakistani firm.
A similar system in Belarus would create a state-run monopoly controlling which devices can legally operate and generating millions in fees for the Lukashenko family’s inner circle.
Currently, Belarusian mobile operators can see IMEI numbers but do not block grey-market phones. That’s set to change if the new system goes into effect, potentially as early as next year.
'This is about total digital control'
But beyond the money, critics say the real motivation is power.
A national IMEI registry would give the regime unprecedented access to user data, enabling deeper surveillance of opposition figures, journalists and everyday citizens alike.
"This is about total digital control," one Belpol source warned. "And it’s unlikely the Lukashenkos would ever let go of something like that."
The move is expected to crack down on the grey market for phones—while also tightening the regime’s grip on dissent.
As one observer quipped, the digital leash will help Belarus not only track unauthorized imports, but also "wash the grey matter" of its citizens' minds.
And most importantly—for the ruling family—it all stays in the family.
Jan Krzysztof Michalak in Belarus
Source: https://belpol.pro/czifrovaya-vlast-psk-rasshiryaet-gorizonty/