The Scientific and Academic Computer Network (NASK) investigated the activities of a real estate agency run by a Pole who – according to his website – studies law at the Belarusian State University of Economics in Minsk. The Pole registered the company in the Grodno region in April last year. The office offers assistance in purchasing real estate and support when arriving in Belarus.
The office promotes itself intensively in social media – it is active on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X7, Threads, Ban Bye and YouTube. The website has been operational since November 2022. Materials published by the company present Belarus as an attractive place to live and encourage emigration to this country. From May 2023 to April this year. this company's channels collected a total of nearly 810,000. reactions and views.
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The offer is dominated by country houses, usually requiring renovation, located on plots of several dozen ares. Their price ranges from several to several dozen thousand dollars. However, it does not take into account the fact that in Belarus a foreigner can buy an apartment or house, but not the land on which the building is located. In the latter case, only a long-term lease is possible.
Dr. Michał Marek, head of NASK's internal threat analysis team, informs PAP that the office described is not the only similar case. Other entities conduct similar activities, although they do not have a mass reach yet. The analyst pointed out that in this case we are dealing with a specific combination of business activity with the broadcast of propaganda content, whitening the image of Belarus and encouraging Poles to come to this country.
— Unfortunately, such actions are part of the pattern of operation of the Belarusian services. It is impossible to say with certainty whether this was a project they created from the beginning or whether it was taken over by them, Marek said.
The NASK expert recalled that in recent months the Belarusian authorities accused several random Polish citizens of espionage after crossing the border. The Belarusian side uses such situations to put pressure on Poland.
— The rule is simple: you don't want to risk ending up in a Belarusian prison, don't go to Belarus. This applies not only to famous, socially active people, but to everyone, Marek emphasized.
Complications may arise after purchasing a house in Belarus
He also drew attention to the fact that although the offer of this intermediary may seem attractive, for this money in Belarus you can only buy a hovel.
— Of course, it's a matter of judgment for each of us whether we consider buying a hovel on the territory of an enemy country attractive. However, this involves not only the risk of arrest, but also the risk of being defrauded, he warned. He added that entering the Belarusian official machine, combined with the level of corruption there, may result in loss of money.
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The analyst emphasized that the Belarusian legal system favors nepotism and corruption, and officials interpret the regulations at their own will. Any – even accidental – violation of the law gives the services an excuse to exert pressure. – Therefore, taking advantage of an offer such as this means de facto getting into the hands of the Belarusian services – warned Michał Marek.
Piotr Jarzyński from the Jarzyński & Wspólnicy law firm, vice-chairman of the Real Estate Committee of the National Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that purchasing real estate outside the European Union requires thorough knowledge of local law and the market. He pointed out that local regulations – for example regarding seller's liability for real estate defects or pursuing claims – may be fundamentally different from Polish regulations.
In the case of Belarus, the risk is particularly high. – It is an authoritarian state and it may turn out that despite fulfilling all obligations in accordance with local law, the buyer will not be allowed to cross the border, for example – he points out and adds that in countries such as Belarus, where the state takes over almost every area of life and limits ownership, there is always a risk that the law will be changed overnight.
— In Poland, I would not expect a situation in which something would be taken away from someone overnight without compensation and without meeting constitutional standards, Jarzyński emphasized.
