Belarus Opposition Hit by Sex Scandal and ‘KGB’ Smear Campaign

The Belarusian opposition in exile is grappling with a severe internal crisis and a targeted disinformation campaign, undermining its efforts on the international stage. While opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was appealing for European support at a strategic forum in Slovenia, her inner circle was rocked by serious allegations and what they describe as state-sponsored sabotage.

Pavel Latushka, the deputy head of the United Transitional Cabinet and a key figure in the opposition, is now fighting accusations of sexual harassment. Fellow opposition member Olga Karpushonok publicly alleged that between December 2024 and January 2025, Latushka engaged in “actions of a sexual nature, including unwanted touching and sexual propositions in exchange for career advancement.” She claims that after she refused his advances, he threatened to make her life “unbearable” and pursued her with threats of forced deportation to Belarus. Karpushonok states she has filed complaints with law enforcement in Poland and Spain and has since left the European Union for her safety.

Latushka has vehemently denied the claims, dismissing them as a “complete legal absurdity” and a professionally fabricated story. He asserts that he has no incriminating messages, as none could possibly exist, and has offered to undergo a polygraph test to prove his innocence. Latushka directly accuses the Belarusian KGB of coordinating Karpushonok’s actions in a deliberate attempt to discredit him and the wider democratic movement.

This scandal unfolded as Tsikhanouskaya herself faced a discrediting effort at the Bled Strategic Forum. As she called on European leaders to view Belarus as part of Europe and demand the release of political prisoners, participants at the event received bogus emails. The messages, purportedly from her imprisoned husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski, made proposals for cooperation. Tsikhanouskaya’s chief advisor, Franak Viačorka, condemned it as a “massive campaign” of fake messages orchestrated by Belarusian special services, though he did not provide specific evidence.

Political analyst Pavel Usov suggests these events are part of a calculated strategy by the official government in Minsk. The goal, he argues, is to thoroughly discredit the entire opposition in the eyes of Western partners, leaving President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime as the only viable entity to negotiate with. “The opposition is losing its moral and ideological appeal,” Usov commented, warning that it is saturated with “agents, provocateurs, or simply morally corrupt people.” He questions the opposition’s ability to defend itself, asking, “how many more mines are planted within the opposition community, and how many will explode in the near future?”