Who will account for abductions of oppositionists in Belarus?(Photo, video)

The Belarusians demand to carry out investigation of abductions and assassinations of opposition leaders and stop political prosecution.

The rally with a demand to carry out independent investigation of prominent politicians’ abductions was held on January 16 in Minsk at the crossing of Ramanayskaya Slabada and Nyamiha Streets. Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” unfurled a streamer “We demand international investigation of opposition leaders’ disappearances” and lit candles in remembrance of the disappeared politicians.

As we have informed, in 1999-2000 the first Vice Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus of the 13th convocation, the chairman of the Central Election Commission Viktar Hanchar, a businessman and public leader Anatol Krasouski, the former head of the Interior Ministry and later an oppositional politician Yury Zakharanka, a cameraman of the ORT TV channel Dzmitry Zavadski went missing in Belarus. Nothing is known about the whereabouts of these people.

The world community constantly states that it is necessary to find out the whereabouts of the Belarusian oppositionists. The demands to reveal the truth about the abductions is stated in the resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

A number of high-ranking Belarusian officials, in particular, the interior minister Uladzimir Navumau, the head of the Presidential Administration Viktar Sheiman, the former head of the Interior ministry Yury Sivakou and SOBR commander Dzmitry Paulichenka are banned entry to the EU countries and the US because they are suspects in being involved in forcible abductions of the oppositionists.

Activists of “European Belarus” demand to stop crackdown on oppositionists

The rally of solidarity with oppositionist convicted in the “Process of Fourteen” for participation in protest rallies of small entrepreneurs, was held on January 16 on Yakub Kolas Square in Minsk.

Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” were standing on the square with portraits of convicted oppositionists. Two participants in the rally had a streamer “Freedom to political prisoners!” and chanted this slogan.

Several dozens of passers-by were watching the protest with interest. Many of them came near the participants of the rally, asked about the portraits the young people were holding in their hands, and asked about the aim of the protest.

In a minute after the rally finished, a bus with riot policemen arrived to the place of the protest. Riot policemen started to search the participants and even some passers-by.

As we have informed, opposition activists Alyaksei Bondar, Artsyom Dubski, Mikhas Kryvau, Mikhas Pashkevich, Alyaksandr Straltsou, Alyaksandr Charnyshou, Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Mikhas Subach, and Paval Vinahradau had been sentenced to 2 years of restraint of liberty without sending to penal facilities for participation in protest rallies of entrepreneurs. Minor Maxim Dashuk is sentenced to 1.5 year of restraint of liberty. In December 2008, Alyaksandr Barazenka, activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, got 1 year of restraint of liberty for the same rally. All these people can be arrested any moment and sent to prison.