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Where are Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasouski and Zavadski?

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Where are Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasouski and Zavadski?

How can Europe begin a dialogue with Minsk without receiving information about involvement of high ranking officials of the country in grave crimes?

Today, many European politicians, starting dialogue with Minsk, have forgotten that Belarusian authorities have still not officially responded to the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe No. 1371 from 15.04.2008 on carrying out an objective investigation of the circumstances of the abduction of opposition leaders Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasouski, and journalist Zmitser Zavadski.

These resolutions have been based on the report "Missing people in Belarus", prepared by lawyer Christos Pourgourides, Special Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Based on the results of this investigation the European Union, the US, and Canada have banned the entry into their territory for three high-ranking government officials (Viktar Sheiman, Yury Sivakou, Uladzimir Navumau) and Commander of a special unit Dzmitry Paulichenka. In 2006 Aliaksandr Lukashenka joined them. After that Pourgourides became persona non grata in Belarus.

For 16 years already the relatives of the missing citizens cannot receive from law enforcement agencies a report about any progress throughout the entire investigation period.

The Government of Belarus continues to ignore requirements for search of the missing people, despite numerous resolutions of international organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

How can Europe begin the dialogue with Minsk without obtaining information about involvement or non-involvement of high ranking officials of the country in grave crimes related to abduction of Lukashenka's opponents? There is no point in discussing any issues on cooperation with the EU without obtaining this information from official bodies of Belarus.

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus still conducts investigation, although we all understand there is no impartial, objective and proper investigation.

Due to the lack of progress in the investigation of abductions in Belarus, the time has come when it is necessary to establish an international independent commission, which would be composed of representatives of law enforcement agencies, prominent lawyers, lawyers specializing in this sphere, to have a possibility to hold an unbiased investigation of forcible abductions of members of Belarusian opposition. If the Government is not involved, it should do it to provide itself with an alibi.

Aleh Vouchak, Head of the Human Rights Center "Legal Assistance to Population", especially for charter97.org

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