Swedish phonecompany Telia is having trouble with its shared interest in Turkcell. A bigger problem with Telia´s 38 % ownership of Turkcell is that they together own several cell phone-companies in Central Asia, Russia – and Belaurs.

During the elections in Belarus in december 2010 many oppositional activists and politicians had their phones surveilled by the government. Some of that surveíllance was provided by a cell phone company that Telia owns through Turkcell.

The article brings up the criticism brought towards Telia for participating in the regimes prosecution of oppositional in Belarus. A representative for Telia says that they are very strict about having a written request for information, that it is from the right authority and that it follows the law of the country. That is of course not very reassuring in a country where laws are not made to make it possible to be an oppositional politician but the direct opposite.

Telia has to stop supporting the regime in Belarus by participating in surveillance against oppositional politicians and activitsts!

Read the article in swedish here.