Custom Officers Seized Book From Historian Valodzin

The young historian and environmental activist Uladzimir Valodzin participated in the International Congress of Belarusian Studies.

When he was crossing the border, Ashmiany customs office employees took note of the package of books and magazines, which he bought at the Congress. They called the shift supervisor, who decided to send some of the publications for an expert examination to check for the presence of signs of extremism. This is how the Belarusian customs officers have responded to the World Day against the Death Penalty, which is celebrated on October 10, Human Rights Center Viasna writes.

In particular, the customs officials did not like the book “The Death Penalty in Belarus,” as well as the CD with a documentary “Dissident,” which tells about the life of Mikhail Kukabaka – a Belarusian, who spent about 17 years in prisons and camps because of his settled convictions.

A corresponding act upon the literature’s withdrawal was drawn up, and the publications were sent to the Hrodna regional expert commission.

Uladzimir Valodzin told human rights defenders about the circumstances of the accident:

– They took me off the commuter bus in Kamenny Loh and then drew up papers for three hours. They were running around, were in a flurry. I didn’t sleep all night. However, then they put me on another bus and I managed to get to Minsk.

Interestingly, in March 2016 Hrodna experts examined the book “The Death Penalty in Belarus” for extremism and did not find any. The Hrodna Regional Commission issued an expert opinion from which it followed that there were no signs of extremism in the publication.