Belarusian facial recognition company set to get a hearing before the EU Court of Justice

US lobbying giant APCO to help Ukraine-based initiative pushing for Kyiv and Minsk's EU integration 

The US lobbying firm has been commissioned by a new Brussels-based NGO, Center for a European Future, to help prepare the ground for Minsk and Kyiv's EU integration. The think-tank is led by an experienced PR professional with strong ties in Ukraine but few contacts in Minsk.

Synesis fights sanctions and informational attacks from Brussels to Warsaw 

Bypol, a grouping of anti-Lukashenko law enforcement officers in exile, has intensified its attacks on social media and keeps lobbying in the EU against the Belarusian facial recognition software developer.

Belarusian 'Bellingcat' caught up in opposing disinformation campaigns 

Run by exiled journalist and activist Anton Motolko, the @Hajun_BY Telegram channel gathers information about Russian troop and military hardware movements in Belarus. Used by private sector consultants and the Belarusian opposition alike, the channel has also come under attack from Belarusian intelligence services.

• WASHINGTON - Ergo brings in a Navy SEAL

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• LONDON - G3 adds muscle to asset-tracking team

• LONDON - Silverbridge poaches from the Met

• LONDON - Ex-Bellingcat manager Ostanin has another crack at corporate intelligence

• PARIS - Amarante establishes foothold in Belgian diplomacy in Africa

• PARIS - GEOS increases oil and gas security offering

• FRANCE - Baubigeat Zeller boosts sanctions management capacity

Belarusian opposition's lobbying rubs European Council the wrong way 

The lawsuit between Brussels and facial recognition provider Synesis put the anti-Lukashenko organisation Bypol in the hotseat. Ex-Cop Alexander Azarov's already fragile reputation has taken yet another blow.

Russia accelerates use of Belarus as rear training base 

The recent troop movements on Ukraine's northern border illustrate Russia's use of Belarus as a training ground for its new recruits, and its aims to influence how the Belarusian command trains its own personnel.

Siloviki eye facial recognition as potential windfall in their search for funds 

With the final touches being put to the 2023 federal budget, Moscow's political class and biometric technology providers are queuing up for the public funds that could be allocated to facial recognition projects.

APCO working on both sides of Belarusian unrest 

Washington-based lobbying giant APCO just terminated a contract it had just signed with dissident Sviatlana Tskihanouskaya. From Vilnius, she is leading a movement opposing the regime in Minsk. In 2021, APCO briefly represented the opposite side.