[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"The Investigative Committee of Belarus has launched a 'special investigation' against Wargaming co-owner Nikolai Katselapov", 2 July 2025

The Investigative Committee of Belarus has launched a "special proceeding" against the co-founder and co-owner of Wargaming, Nikolai Katselapov.

He is charged with financing extremist activity... and financing terrorist activity... The department stated that he must appear before the Investigative Committee.
In 2023, the State Security Committee of Belarus included him in the list of persons involved in "terrorist activities." Propagandists claimed that he allegedly made "dozens of transfers" in cryptocurrency for "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to various "extremist" initiatives.

Nikolay Katselapov owns 17% of shares in Wargaming Group. He is currently abroad.

Special proceedings are trials in absentia against defendants who are outside the country. Convicts may have their property confiscated and be stripped of their Belarusian citizenship. The Belarusian authorities introduced this concept into legislation to prosecute people who oppose the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.