Miraslau Lazouski: “A student, a programmer and a plant worker were in cell with me”

Democratic activist Miraslau Lazouski and his wife Nina Shydlouskaya told t the Charter’97 press center about detention in blast case and what the oppositionist was asked in the KGB.

It should be reminded that Miraslau Lazouski, as other opposition activists, spent 10 days in the detention center.

– Miraslau, how were you detained?

– I was detained near my work by officers of the city KGB department. We went to their office, where I was questioned and presented an arrest warrant. At the same time my apartment was being searched for 6 hours. My mother and wife Nina Shydlouskaya were at home at that time. They found nothing except for symbols related to White Legion organisation, I belonged to. Then I was guarded to the Investigation Department of preliminary investigation on Sapyorau Street for interrogation. They thought up a very convenient ground for detainment – “on direct suspicion”. A blur phrasing, isn’t it? I was at home during the concert, but I was detained all jthe same. It’s clear the main ground is that I was a member of the White Legion.

– What questions did they ask during the interrogation?

– I had a long conversation. In the first place, they asked where I was on 3 July, they also were interested in White Legion’s activity. I think, they will be interested in all organisations. You understand, they are conducting a large-scale operation. I have an impression that suspected White Legion on s certain stage, but mass searches and detentions revealed that former members of the organisation have no relation to the blast.

– Activists of other youth organisations, Belarusian Popular Front and United Civil Party, the “European Belarus” civil campaign were detained, too...

– Yes, I’ve learnt it after I was released. It’s no wonder. Naturally, they will detain opposition activists first f all. I repeat, they have a convenient harassing for it – “on risen suspicion”. When we were given materials of experts’ evaluations, I saw 30 names of people, who have already read it. There were rumours the special detention center on Akrestin Street was overcrowded...

– What were the conditions of the detention?

– There were five people in my cell, who were detained in the blast case. I, Syarhei Chyslau, a student, a programmer and a plant worker. The student was detained because he was involved in another blast case, the worker was involved in arms keeping. Teh programmer was detained because he had written something about the blast on a forum...

Nina Shydlouskaya was summoned to the Investigation Department on the day her husband Miraslau Lazouski was released. Nina Shydlouskaya, deputy head of the World Association of Belarusians Batskaushchyna (Fatherland), told to the Charter’97 press center how she had been questioned.

– In the Investigation Department I was asked questions about seized from our apartment things. They again ask where Miraslau had been on 3 July. Most probably, they continue to monitor the information and “supervise” former White Legion members in spite of release of the opposition activists.

The search of our apartment lasted for 6 hours. It was conducted by KGB officers and dog specialist with a dog. They scared elderly 74-year old Miraslau’s parents. They didn’t use the intercom, but rang at the door. Mother opened it, and their crowd entered... They seized a computer system unites, and haven’t returned it yet. All things are in the KGB now: notebooks, old stickers, other informational materials. I had many business cards of military men from all over the world since my training in Marshall Center. Though I explained them it was a state programme, they were extremely interested in business cards. Of course, they didn’t find anything related to the blast.

– Why, in your view, were your husband and other opposition activists arrested?

– It is becoming more and more evident for me that they began with the White Legion and then began to arrest all the rest, because they needed to demonstrate their activity. A comment of Kuznyatsou, representative of the KGB Minks directorate is illustrative. He said the detained are checked if they “belong to unregistered radical organisations”.