Sheiman, Navumau, Paulichenka – to account! (Photo)

Actions demanding to investigate disappearances of famous public and political figures were held in Minsk by activists of the “European Belarsu” civil campaign on September 17.

One of the actions took place at the entrance to crowded Rakauski Market. Youth activists, carrying portraits of Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, Yury Zakharanka, and Zmitser Zavadski, formed a human chain. They also unfurled a banner “We demand international investigation of opposition leaders disappearances”.

After a time, youth activists held a similar action opposite the Ice Arena near Pushkinskaya metro station.

Activists of the “European Belarus” demanded to call Belarusian officials, suspected of involvement in opposition leaders disappearances, to account. Some of them still occupy high ranks and posts.

Young people unfurled a banner “Sheiman, Sivakou, Navumau, Paulichenka are suspected of kidnapping and murders of Belarusian oppositionists by the Council of Europe” in one of the most crowded sites of the Maskouski district – at intersection of Dzerzhinsky Avenue and Holubeu Street. The participants of the action carried portraits of the missing politicians.

15 “European Belarus” activists held an action near ProStore hypermarket in Malinauka district. They had portraits of the missing people and national and EU flags in their hands.

It should be reminded that 9 years ago, on September 16, 1999, Anatol Krasouski and Viktar Hanchar were kidnapped. The international society and human rights organisations suspect the Belarusian authorities of their kidnapping.

First vice speaker of the 13th Supreme Council of Belarus, chairman of the Central Election Commission Viktar Hanchar disappeared in Minsk on September 16, 1999. He was returning home with his friend businessman Anatol Krasouski. Later, on the supposed site of kidnapping, Fabrychbaya Street, automobile glass fragments and blood of the kidnapped were found.

In May 1999, Yury Zakharanka, former head of the Ministry of Internal Affaires, who later joined the opposition, disappeared. In summer 2000, ORT television cameraman Zmitser Zavadski disappeared. There’s no information about the destiny of these people.

The international society insists on necessity to shed light to the destiny of the disappeared Belarusian oppositionists. Resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE demand to reveal the truth of their disappearance.

A number of high ranking Belarusian officials, in particular, minister of internal affaires Uladzimir Navimau, head of the presidential administration Viktar Sheiman, former interior minister Yury Sivakou and commander of special troops Dzmitry Paulichenka are banned entry EU countries and the US for suspicion of their involvement in kidnapping of the oppositionists.